Overview
- Announced Aug. 26, Augusta National and The R&A removed automatic Masters berths for FedEx Cup Fall winners and added spots for winners of six national opens beginning in 2026.
- The designated events are the Australian, Scottish, South African, Spanish, Japan and Hong Kong Opens, with aligned pathways also feeding The Open.
- Ridley cited a near 50-50 split of U.S. and international players in recent Masters fields and said the policy rewards historic championships in key golf markets.
- Early 2026 qualifiers include Spain’s Open winner Marco Penge, Japan Open champion Naoyuki Kataoka and Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup, with Hong Kong and Australia to be played later this year and South Africa in early 2026.
- LIV Golf players remain eligible for these events, the Hong Kong Open sits within the Asian Tour’s International Series, and LIV’s latest bid for Official World Golf Ranking points is still pending.