1 Masters spot left. 5 big-name PGA Tour pros are chasing it

There is one open spot left at Augusta National.

And one more chance left to grab it.

At the end of last week's Houston Open, Augusta National officially invited the winner (Gary Woodland) and four professionals who solidified their places in the OWGR top 50 (Nicolai Hojgaard, Jake Knapp, Matt McCarty, Daniel Berger) before the final deadline. (Here's hoping they get an overnight delivery in green envelopes from Augusta. And maybe an email confirmation?)

Because Augusta invites every PGA Tour winner to the full event since last year's Masters, this week's Valero Texas Open features a last-chance release. If someone already exempt wins this week – Tommy Fleetwood, say, or Ludwig Aberg, the two pre-tournament favorites – that spot evaporates. But there are plenty of good pros who are just four good rounds from getting the chance to play another four good rounds.

Here are five of those players.

1. Rickie Fowler

Fowler birdied his first four holes at TPC San Antonio, only going up – but as I write these words he's back with a 4-under back nine to open at 2-under 70. Fowler has quietly put together a very consistent round of golf since last summer. Before missing last week's games, he had six top-20 finishes in eight starts. DataGolf still has him as the 25th ranked golfer in the world, the highest of any non-Masters player. But the OWGR rewards highs for consistent finishes, and despite his run of solid play, Fowler doesn't have a top five since 2024, so he's No. 65 on the OWGR and outsiders. he is hunting his last chance to make it two out of six.

2. Will of Zalatoris

Zalatoris just made eight birdies in an opening round five-under 67 and just keeps hitting the lead. We're still a quarter of the way through the transfer, so it's too early for anything but what-ifs and wild guesses, but the golf world would be happy to see Zalatoris kick off his comeback with a victory and a big field.

Zalatoris didn't win on the PGA Tour between the PGA Championship last May and the American Express in January, where he finished T18. He withdrew from Cognizant shortly before his first round due to an ankle injury – reportedly unrelated to his previous back procedures. He is the No. 299 in OWGR, so this will appear in the left field. What a story it would be.

3. Michael Thorbjornsen

Torbjornsen looked like he might seal his spot in the OWGR top 50 at the Players Championship, where he played his way to the finals but struggled until Sunday's 77 dropped him to T22. He also closed Sunday with a 72 at the Houston Open, leaving him T14 — and No. 54 in OWGR.

No one doubts Thorbjornsen's incredible talent; he's high, he looks like he's going to be a top player on the PGA Tour for years to come and it looks like he's going to be there. The next one year Masters. He might even sneak into it.

4. Tony Finau

As noted by Jeff Eisenband below, Tony Finau is about to end his streak of major championships played at 33. Finau is number 107 in the OWGR, although he has shown flashes of strong form with three top 20 finishes in seven starts in 2026. It feels like there are many more chapters of Finauon's story left for the great champion to become a great champion- check out the top 10 nine from 2018-2021! That the next rally could start this week.

5. Keith Mitchell

Cashmere Keith is another solid professional – he's made 12 consecutive cuts, including five top 20s – but while he's No. 44 in the DataGolf rankings he's just No. 104 on the OWGR. There are many good stories about Mitchell's game; he has been outstanding off the tee, his iron play has been strong, he is top 20 on Tour from tee to green. If he gets a hot putter this week, who knows? Mitchell could be in his third Masters.

Otherwise, these five will look next year. Most others will, too.

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