We’re now just one week away from the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, and the field is about to be set. Another contender could be added this week by winning the Valero Texas Open (see: Rickie Fowler), and we still don’t know if Tiger Woods will play.
However, on Sunday at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, five PGA Tour pros who did not qualify for this year’s Masters punched their tickets to Augusta National.
While Gary Woodland did it in emphatic fashion, the other four top pros found their places in a more dangerous way: with the final update of the Official World Golf Ranking before the tournament.
Here’s what you need to know.
5 players qualified for the 2026 Masters on Sunday
Gary Woodland
The Woodland is easily the best story of the 2026 season. Recently, Woodland opened up about his struggles with PTSD following brain surgery that derailed his career a few years ago.
He said he hopes the community’s acceptance will help him progress in recovery. And he did so. The 2019 US Open champion held the Texas Children’s Houston Open to win his first title since that US Open.
The victory also earned him a spot in the 2026 Masters, where he will make his first start since 2024.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Hojgaard made his name by starring in the 2023 European Ryder Cup team, before allowing his twin brother Rasmus to take his place in 2025.
Heading into the Houston Open without a spot at the Masters, Hojgaard was hoping to chase Woodland and earn his invitation that way.
But he had another way to get to Augusta: The Official World Golf Ranking. All players ranked in the OWGR top 50 after this year’s Texas Children’s Houston Open earned spots in the 2026 Masters.
At No. 47 to start the week, Hojgaard was in danger of being dropped. Although Sunday’s 71 left him five shots behind Woodland, Hojgaard finished second, improving his OWGR ranking to 36.
As a result, he has secured his spot at the Masters, where he will be making his third career start. He joins his brother Rasmus in the field of Masters. In 2025, they became the first twins to compete in the Masters.
Daniel Berger
Berger is a four-time PGA Tour champion who has played in six Masters. His best finish was a T10 in his Masters debut in 2016. Although he missed the 2023 and 2024 events, he returned to the Masters in 2025 and finished T21.
That wasn’t good enough to qualify him for 2026, but after completing the Texas Children’s Houston Open at age 38 at OWGR, he earned his tee times at Augusta National in less than a week.
Jake Knapp
Knapp, 31, has played just one Masters, doing so after winning the 2024 Mexico Open for his only PGA Tour victory. He made the cut and finished the T55.
Knapp didn’t qualify last year, but when he woke up Monday, his OWGR ranking of 42 officially sealed his spot in the 2026 Masters field.
Matt McCarty
The youngest player on the list at 28 years old, McCarty made his Masters debut last year following his first Tour win at the 2024 Black Desert Championship.
He played well as a Masters rookie, finishing an impressive T14. But that wasn’t good enough to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters. It doesn’t matter. He played his way into the Top 50 at OWGR with a strong start to the season, finishing last week in 46th place. That means he will make his second Masters start next week.
