For many golf fans, the void created by the end of the PGA Tour’s fall season brings about an involuntary response:
So, how many days until the Masters, again?
In thinking about the Masters, the natural instinct is also to think about who is playing in the Masters. That question is a bit more tenuous heading into 2023 with the specter of LIV Golf potentially altering the usual invitation list.
Masters officials have not said whether players banned by the PGA Tour for competing on the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit might also be restricted from competing at Augusta National. The club has not formally released qualifying categories for 2023, either, although don’t read too much into that. They typically aren’t posted on the tournament website until late December or early January, around when the club begins to send out invitations to players who have qualified.
So while nothing is official yet, let’s presume for a moment that the traditional qualifying criteria does carry over into 2023 and that LIV golfers who earn spots through qualifying will indeed be welcomed to drive down Magnolia Lane. If that’s the case, by our estimation 80 golfers are currently in the field, including all living past champions. Winnowing out those who won a green jacket but no longer play in the tournament, the list of likely competitors is around 65, depending on whether the likes of Trevor Immelman might compete again or if Sandy Lyle might call it a career.
Below then are the players who we believe have earned invitations if the 2022 criteria is carried over for 2023. Mind you, there are still more additions likely to come to this list. Presuming again the 2022 qualifying categories carry over, the top 50 in the final Official World Golf Ranking who aren’t already in the field will qualify, as well winners of PGA Tour events from January through April that give out a full allocation of FedEx Cup points. Additionally, the winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship in January is expected to be given a spot.
Keegan Bradley, 16 (Zozo)
Sam Burns, 16 (Charles Schwab Challenge), 17
Patrick Cantlay, 16 (BMW), 17
Tony Finau, 16 (3M Open, Rocket Mortgage, Houston Open), 17
Matt Fitzpatrick, 2, 13, 16 (U.S. Open), 17
Russell Henley, 16 (World Wide Technology)
Max Homa, 16 (Wells Fargo, Fortinet), 17
Billy Horschel, 16 (Memorial), 17
Mackenzie Hughes, 16 (Sanderson Farms)
Tom Kim, 16 (Wyndham, Shriners)
K.H. Lee, 16 (Byron Nelson), 17
Hideki Matsuyama, 1, 13, 17
Rory McIlroy, 12, 14, 16 (RBC Canadian, CJ Cup), 17
Collin Morikawa, 3, 4, 12, 17
J.T. Poston, 16 (John Deere), 17
Seamus Power, 16 (Bermuda)
Jon Rahm, 2, 16 (Mexico), 17
Patrick Reed, 1, 12, 17, 19
Xander Schauffele, 16 (Travelers, Scottish Open), 17
Scottie Scheffler, 1, 12, 13, 16 (Masters), 17
Cameron Smith, 3, 5, 12, 14, 16 (Open Championship), 17
Jordan Spieth, 1, 16 (RBC Heritage), 17
Adam Svensson, 16 (RSM Classic)
Justin Thomas, 4, 5, 12, 15, 16 (PGA), 17
Cameron Young, 14, 15, 17
Will Zalatoris, 12, 13, 15, 16 (FedEx St. Jude), 17.
1: Masters champions (lifetime)
2: U.S. Open champions (five years)
3: Open champions (five years)
4: PGA champion (five years)
5: Players champion (three years)
6: Current Olympic gold medalist (one year)
7: Current U.S. Amateur champion and runner-up (one year)
8: Current British Amateur champion (one year)
9: Current Asia-Pacific Amateur champion (one year)
10: Current U.S. Mid-Amateur champion (one year)
11: Current Latin America Amateur champion (one year)
12: First 12 players, including ties, in the previous year’s Masters
13: First 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s U.S. Open
14: First 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s Open Championship
15: First 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s PGA Championship
16: Winners of PGA Tour regular-season and playoff events that award at least a full allocation of FedEx Cup points
17: Qualifiers from the previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship (top 30 in FedEx Cup)
18: 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
19: 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters