The final week for players to try to get into the Masters through the world ranking has rarely held so few possibilities.
Byeong Hun An is a lock to stay in the top 50. He was No. 60 at the end of 2023, and then started the year finishing fourth at Kapalua and tied for second at the Sony Open to get inside the top 50. He secured his position in the top 50 with a tie for eighth at Bay Hill.
Everyone else in the top 50 — all the way to No. 54 — is already in the Masters through various other criteria, including four who won on the PGA Tour this year.
The Masters currently has 86 players — that includes Tiger Woods, who has not played since February at Riviera. He is expected to play, though Woods has not formally revealed his plans. He only has to register before teeing off.
It does not include Angel Cabrera, who spent two years in prison for gender violence before being released on probation. His manager said in an email the former Masters champion is still two months away from getting a visa to travel from Argentina.
The Masters field could reach as high as 90 players. An will get in through the world ranking, and a few players — no more than one will get in — have a chance to play their way into the top 50. The Houston Open and Texas Open winners also get invitations.
Tom Hoge is at No. 57 and likely would need around third place in Houston to get in. Mackenzie Hughes (No. 63) and Alex Noren (No. 66) would need a runner-up finish to have any mathematical chance.
Among those on the bubble who chose not to play in Houston are Christiaan Bezuidenhout (No. 55) and Brendon Todd (No. 64).
The Augusta National field has 13 players from LIV Golf — 10 recent major champions, newcomers Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk through the Tour Championship and world ranking at the end of last year, and Joaquin Niemann on a special invitation.
Two years ago before the Saudi-funded league was launched, 10 other LIV players were in the field — four of them through the world ranking, five from having won on the PGA Tour and one from being top 12 in the previous year’s Masters.
