These 5 PGA Tour pros just earned 2026 Masters invites
We are actually just one week away from the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, and the sphere is sort of set. One competitor may nonetheless be added this week by successful the Valero Texas Open (see: Rickie Fowler), and we still don’t know if Tiger Woods will play.
However, on Sunday on the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, 5 PGA Tour pros not beforehand certified for this yr’s Masters punched their tickets to Augusta National.
While Gary Woodland did it in emphatic fashion4 different prime pros earned their spots a extra precarious method: by way of the ultimate Official World Golf Ranking replace forward of the match.
Here’s what you have to know.
5 gamers who certified for 2026 Masters on Sunday
Gary Woodland
Woodland is well the perfect feel-good story of the 2026 season. Recently, Woodland (*5*) that derailed his profession just a few years again.
He stated he hoped the general public admission would assist him progress in restoration. And did it ever. The 2019 US Open champion dominated the Texas Children’s Houston Open to win his first title since that US Open.
The victory additionally earned him a spot within the 2026 Masters, the place he’ll make his first begin since 2024.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Hojgaard made a reputation for himself by starring on the 2023 European Ryder Cup crew, earlier than letting his twin brother Rasmus take his spot in 2025.
Heading into the Houston Open and not using a spot within the Masters, Hojgaard hoped to chase down Woodland and earn his invite that method.
But he had one different avenue to make it to Augusta: the Official World Golf Ranking. All gamers ranked throughout the Top 50 of the OWGR after this yr’s Texas Children’s Houston Open earn spots within the 2026 Masters.
At No. 47 to start out the week, Hojgaard was vulnerable to getting knocked out. Though a Sunday 71 left him 5 photographs behind Woodland, Hojgaard completed runner-up, which improved his OWGR rating to thirty sixth.
As a end result, he safely earned his spot within the Masters, the place he’ll be making his third-career start. He joins his brother Rasmus within the Masters area. In 2025, they became the first pair of twins to compete within the Masters.
Daniel Berger
Berger is a four-time PGA Tour champion who has performed in six Masters. His finest end was a T10 in his Masters debut in 2016. Although he missed the 2023 and 2024 occasions, he returned to the Masters in 2025 and completed T21.
That wasn’t adequate to qualify him for 2026, however after ending the Texas Children’s Houston Open at thirty eighth within the OWGR, he earned his tee occasions at Augusta National in every week’s time.
Jake Knapp
Knapp31, has solely performed in a single Masters, doing so after successful the 2024 Mexico Open for his solely PGA Tour victory. I made the minimize and completed T55.
Knapp did not qualify final yr, however when he awoke on Monday, his OWGR rating of 42 formally stamped his place within the 2026 Masters area.
Matt McCarty
The youngest participant on the record at 28 years outdated, McCarty made his Masters debut final yr following his maiden Tour victory at the 2024 Black Desert Championship.
He performed nice as a Masters rookie, ultimately ending a powerful T14. But that wasn’t fairly adequate to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters. It does not matter. He performed his method into the Top 50 within the OWGR with a stable begin to the season, ending final week at forty sixth. That means he’ll make his second Masters begin subsequent week.
