Overview

• Beginning with 2026, champions of the Scottish, Spanish, Japan, Hong Kong, Australian and South African Opens will receive Masters invitations.
• The Masters will now invite only winners of PGA Tour events that award full points toward the season-ending Tour Championship, ending automatic berths from fall events.
• The R&A will fold the six national opens into its Open Qualifying Series and release the full 2026 schedule in September for Royal Birkdale.
• The update creates a potential route for LIV golfers who can enter and win these national opens, though no direct LIV exemptions were added and OWGR issues remain.
• This marks the Masters’ most significant criteria revision since 2013, with the 90th tournament set for April 9–12, 2026 at Augusta National.