What is the prize money?
The Masters purse is $15 million. The winner will take home $2.7 million (£2.37m), with $1.62m for second place, $1.02 for third and incrementally less for each place in the top 50, down to $37,800 for finishing 50th.
That makes the Masters one of the most lucrative golf tournaments in the world, although the sums on offer pale in comparison to the exorbitant riches of LIV Golf.
Last year’s No 1 player on the LIV series, Dustin Johnson, took home more than £28 million in prize money alone. Reports state that Johnson’s signing-on fee for joining LIV was well in excess of £100 million.
How do players qualify for The Masters?
Technically speaking, players receive an invite to play in the Masters. Unlike the US Open or the Open Championship, there is no ‘open’ qualification process as such.
All in all, there are 19 different ways to make sure an envelope from Augusta drops through your letterbox. The simplest way is to be in the top 50 of the World Rankings on January 1.
All previous Masters champions can play, should they choose to take up the invitation, as well as those players who finished in the top 12 of the previous year’s renewal.
Any player who won a major or a fully-sanctioned PGA Tour event the previous season will also book their place for Augusta. One player who has done just that is Justin Rose, thanks to his victory at Pebble Beach in February. Another is Chris Kirk after winning the Honda Classic at PGA National.
The same goes for any player who achieved a top four finish in any of the previous season’s majors.
Any player in the world’s top 50 the week before the Masters who has not qualified by any other measure will also be exempt.
The rest of the field is made up of the winners of the amateur game’s most distinguished events. The Masters is a smaller field than the other three majors, with around 90 players usually in attendance.
Are LIV golfers at the Masters?
Yes. Augusta National decided against issuing any bans. The 16 eligible LIV rebels received their Masters invites through the post in December.
They include the the likes of Open champion Cam Smith, three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, as well as Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau.
All LIV players attended the traditional Champions’ Dinner on Tuesday night, where Mickelson kept a distinctly low profile.
How can I get Masters tickets?
Those wanting a golden ticket to watch the Masters will need to apply for a ticket via the official channels for the following year.
You can apply for practice day tickets, tournament tickets or both. Applicants are then entered into a ballot and they will find out if they have been successful in July.
Tournament day tickets cost around £112 plus any shipping or handling costs. Food and drink at the course is subsidised and surprisingly good value with a large imported beer costing less than £5.
