Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A announced Monday they will continue pathways into next year’s Masters and Open Championship via select national opens.
Augusta National added the six national open champions – Spanish Open, Japan Open, Hong Kong Open, Australian Open, South African Open and Scottish Open, which already offered a spot into the Masters for the winner as a co-sanctioned PGA Tour event – to its list of Masters invitees this year, a move that aligned the club with the R&A.
“The Masters Tournament has a longstanding history of assembling an international field, so we embrace this opportunity to highlight the global nature of the game of golf,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said in a statement. “Today’s announcement reinforces our shared commitment with the R&A to offer pathways for players from around the world to earn their place in the Masters and The Open.”
The 19-event Open Qualifying Series for next year’s Open at St. Andrews will be announced Tuesday. The R&A began the qualifying series in 2013.
The Masters normally has fewer than 100 invitees and the smallest field among the majors.