re: Discussion at work: Is The Masters overrated?

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My biggest complaint is the field is too small and a bunch of spots are wasted on former champs and amateurs that have no shot.

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The Masters is an invitational tournament based on certain criteria. No spots are taken up by past champions or Am tournament winners. In other words, the 51st ranked player in the world is not bumped out because Fred Couples or the Latin American Am winner plays. Here is the criteria for an invitation:

Win it!

Winning the Masters earns the champion a lifetime exemption into the field — the most generous exemption in the world of golf. Many former champions continue to play the Masters even though they are long past their prime. Earlier this year, 64-year-old Larry Mize announced that the 2023 Masters will be his last. This year will mark 40 consecutive Masters for Mize, who won his green jacket in 1987.

Win one of the other three majors

Players who win one of the other three majors (PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship) are awarded a five-year exemption into the Masters field.

Win the Players Championship

Winners of the Players Championship can enjoy a three-year exemption into the Masters.

Win Olympic gold

The Olympic gold medalist can enjoy a one-year exemption into the Masters field.

Win (or finish runner-up) in an elite amateur tournament

Winners of the U.S. Amateur Championship, British Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur, Latin American Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur are invited to play the Masters. Traditionally, the U.S. Amateur runner-up is also invited.

Play well in the majors

The top-12 finishers (including ties) at each year’s Masters are invited back the following year if they are not otherwise exempt. For the other major championships, it’s the top 4 and ties.

Win a PGA Tour tournament

Winners of PGA Tour events that received full FedEx Cup points are eligible for a spot in the Masters.

Qualify for the Tour Championship

The 30 players who qualify for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship are exempt into the Masters field the following year.

Be a Top-50 player

The top 50-ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of January 1 every year earn an exemption into the Masters field.

Be a Top-50 player the week before the Masters

Any player who enters the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking and who is not otherwise exempt the week before each Masters gets an invitation to join the field.

Catch the Masters Committee’s attention

The Masters Committee also reserves the right to extend an invitation to players that they feel are deserving of a place in the field. This year, Japanese pro Kazuki Higa and reigning NCAA champion Gordon Sargent accepted special invitations.