How to qualify for the Masters, the most prestigious golf tournament in the world

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When the Masters kicks off on Thursday, 89 golfers will be competing for the coveted green jacket. The size of the field — 67 fewer golfers than the other majors — combined with its status in the golf world makes it the most prestigious golf tournament in the world.

Over the years, the number of golfers competing in the Masters had slowly grown, reaching 99 in 2011, the largest number or golfers at the Masters since 1966. As a result, new rules were put in place in 2013 to "maintain Bobby Jones' desire to keep the Masters an intimate gathering of the world's best competitors," Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne said at the time.

Now, in order for a golfer to earn an invite to Augusta National, they must satisfy at least one of 18 different criteria, which range from being a former champion to finishing as the runner-up in the US Amateur.

Below is a look at each of the 18 current criteria and which players qualify under each. In several cases, golfers qualify under multiple categories. Those players are only listed under their first qualification. In a few cases, golfers who have qualified will not compete for various reasons (e.g injuries, age, Korean military commitment).

No. 1 — 16 players in this year's tournament have a lifetime invitation for having won the Masters previously

Angel Cabrera
Trevor Immelman
Zach Johnson
Bernhard Langer
Sandy Lyle
Phil Mickelson
Larry Mize
Mark O’Meara
Charl Schwartzel
Adam Scott 
Vijay Singh
Jordan Spieth 
Bubba Watson 
Tom Watson
Mike Weir
Ian Woosnam

No. 2 — 4 golfers received an invitation for having won the U.S. Open in the last five years

Rory McIlroy 
Webb Simpson
Justin Rose 
Martin Kaymer

(Jordan Spieth was already qualified as a former Masters champions)

No. 3 — 2 golfers received an invitation for having won the British Open in the last five years

Darren Clarke
Ernie Els

(Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson are already qualified as former Masters champions. Rory McIlroy already qualified as a former US Open champ)