The Masters 2025: top stars who haven’t yet qualified and what they need to make it
The first Major tournament of the 2025 season is imminent, with The Masters being played April 10th-13th.
The competition to win a coveted Green Jacket will be fierce but for some, the first challenge is winning a place in the field at Augusta National.
So who are the notable names who are currently yet to receive an invite?
And what two methods could be their saving grace and a potential avenue to one of the sport’s most prestigious events?
Victory at the Houston Open or Valero Texas Open
One of the most direct routes but by no means the easiest would be coming out one of the next two PGA Tour events with victory and a consequent direct entry into the field at Augusta National.
As of March 25th, there have been 91 confirmed entrants, with those who are struggling in the world rankings desperate for a Tour title in the upcoming duo of Texas events.
Russell Henley and Ian Poulter’s Houston Open successes in 2017 and 2018, respectively, propelled them onto the famous Augusta National tee box with a last-gasp PGA Tour title.
Squeezing into the World’s Top 50 ranked golfers by March 31st – who’s at risk of missing out and what do they need?
While the Top 50 ranked golfers in the world at the end of each year secure automatic entry to the following Masters, anyone who moves into the Top 50 by March 31st, less than a fortnight before the event, will also receive an invitation that all golfers so long for.
So who’s agonisingly close to booking their flights to Georgia and what finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open would seal their attendance?
Rickie Fowler
Fowler was once ranked No.4 in the world. He has six PGA Tour victories and five top threes in the Majors, including a runners-up finish to Patrick Reed in the 2018 Masters.
Despite his proven success at the highest level, he has work to do if he wants to get back to the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.
Current world ranking: 105
Previous best finish at Houston: T-3
Result needed for an invitation: Win
Jake Knapp
Knapp will be kicking himself that he didn’t convert his opening round of 59 into a PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Cognizant Classic which would have guaranteed him direct Masters entry.
His 59 was just the 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history; what he’d do for a repeat of his heroics this weekend…
Current world ranking: 85
Previous best finish at Houston: Missed the cut on only appearance
Result needed for an invitation: Solo second place
Si Woo Kim
Despite still being in his 20s, the Korean has a wealth of experience under his belt. In fact, he’s made each of his last seven cuts at Augusta National.
Kim was the youngest ever winner of the Players Championship at the age of 21 in 2017 and has four PGA Tour titles to his name.
Current world ranking: 66
Previous best finish at Houston: T-13
Result needed for an invitation: Solo third
Ben Griffin
The American could make a late charge towards Augusta National with a positive performance at the Memorial Park Municipal course in Houston.
His 2025 season has been a rollercoaster ride so far with Griffin struggling to find consistent form but he enjoyed back-to-back fourth place finishes at the Mexico Championship and Cognizant Classic in February.
He’s currently just outside the top 50 with an opportunity to tee it up alongside the best very achievable.
Current world ranking: 53
Previous best finish at Houston: T-16
Result needed for an invitation: Solo 28th
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