Nine big-name golfers who may miss the Masters as Rory McIlroy returns to Augusta

March 6, 2026 Oliver Obel

With the Masters just weeks away, a number of well-known golfers are still fighting to secure a place in the field at Augusta National.

The first major championship of the year begins April 9, and qualification for the tournament is determined through a series of criteria, including victories in major championships, wins on the PGA Tour, and positions in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Players who finish inside the top 50 in the world rankings by the week before the Masters also earn an invitation — making the coming stretch of tournaments particularly important for those hovering outside that cutoff.

According to sports outlet GiveMeSport, several familiar names currently sit outside the projected Masters field and will need strong performances in upcoming events to qualify.

Ranking Race Intensifies

Among the players closest to the qualification line is Rickie Fowler, who is currently ranked 67th in the Official World Golf Ranking. The former Players Championship winner still has opportunities to gain points at upcoming PGA Tour events.

Billy Horschel also finds himself outside the automatic qualification spots. The American, ranked 84th in the world, has been a frequent participant at Augusta National but will likely need improved results in the coming weeks to secure his place.

South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout faces a similar challenge. Ranked 93rd globally, he has been a regular presence in major championships since 2020 but currently sits outside the key ranking threshold.

Notable Players Further Back

Some prominent players face a steeper climb.

Tony Finau, a consistent performer in majors over the past decade, has slipped to 101st in the rankings. If he fails to qualify, it would end a streak of appearances in every major championship since 2017.

Tom Kim, once considered one of golf’s fastest-rising young stars, is also outside the projected Masters field. The 23-year-old reached a career-high ranking of 11 in 2023 but now sits at 118th.

Elsewhere, Sahith Theegala is ranked 97th and still searching for results that could lift him back into the qualification picture.

Will Zalatoris faces perhaps the most difficult path. The American, who previously recorded multiple top-10 finishes at Augusta National, has fallen to 268th in the rankings after dealing with injuries in recent seasons.

Other Players Unlikely to Qualify

Several experienced players also appear unlikely to reach the field unless their rankings improve significantly.

Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Championship winner who now competes on the LIV Golf circuit, currently sits well outside the qualification range. Limited opportunities to earn Official World Golf Ranking points have made Masters qualification more difficult for LIV players in recent seasons.

French golfer Matthieu Pavon is also outside the projected field, currently ranked far below the top-50 cutoff.

Final Opportunities Ahead

With multiple tournaments remaining before the Masters field is finalized, the race for ranking points remains open. Strong performances in upcoming PGA Tour events could still allow several players to climb into the top 50 and secure an invitation to Augusta.

For those currently outside the qualification line, the next few weeks may determine whether they appear at the season’s first major — or watch from home.

Sources: GiveMeSport, Official World Golf Ranking