We at the moment are just one week away from the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, and the sphere is sort of set. One competitor might 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 12 months’s Masters punched their tickets to Augusta National.
While Gary Woodland did it in emphatic fashion, 4 different prime pros earned their spots a extra precarious approach: through the ultimate Official World Golf Ranking replace forward of the event.
Here’s what you might want to know.
5 gamers who certified for 2026 Masters on Sunday
Gary Woodland
Woodland is definitely one of the best feel-good story of the 2026 season. Recently, Woodland (*5*) that derailed his profession a couple of years again.
He stated he hoped the general public admission would assist him progress in restoration. And did it ever. The 2019 U.S. Open champion dominated the Texas Children’s Houston Open to win his first title since that U.S. 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 workforce, earlier than letting his twin brother Rasmus take his spot in 2025.
Heading into the Houston Open with no spot within the Masters, Hojgaard hoped to chase down Woodland and earn his invite that approach.
Masters most sought-after merch item sports unique twist for 2026
But he had one different avenue to make it to Augusta: the Official World Golf Ranking. All gamers ranked inside the Top 50 of the OWGR after this 12 months’s Texas Children’s Houston Open earn spots within the 2026 Masters.
At No. 47 to begin the week, Hojgaard was susceptible to getting knocked out. Though a Sunday 71 left him 5 pictures 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 subject. 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. Though he missed the 2023 and 2024 occasions, he returned to the Masters in 2025 and completed T21.
That wasn’t ok to qualify him for 2026, however after ending the Texas Children’s Houston Open at thirty eighth within the OWGR, he earned his tee instances at Augusta National in per week’s time.
Jake Knapp
Knapp, 31, has solely performed in a single Masters, doing so after successful the 2024 Mexico Open for his solely PGA Tour victory. He made the lower and completed T55.
Knapp didn’t qualify final 12 months, however when he awoke on Monday, his OWGR rating of 42 formally stamped his place within the 2026 Masters subject.
Matt McCarty
The youngest participant on the checklist at 28 years previous, McCarty made his Masters debut final 12 months following his maiden Tour victory at the 2024 Black Desert Championship.
He performed nice as a Masters rookie, finally ending a powerful T14. But that wasn’t fairly ok to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters. No matter. He performed his approach 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.
