The 2024 Masters may see one of its smallest fields in years, contingent upon the initial months of the PGA Tour season. With no significant tournaments for the remainder of the year, 11 players finishing in the top 50 could be added, totaling 77 expected competitors.
Notably, three Masters debutants—Adam Schenk, Eric Cole, and Denny McCarthy—haven’t secured PGA or European Tour victories. Schenk qualified by reaching the Tour Championship for the first time.
Anticipated additions through the top 50 in the world rankings comprise Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, McCarthy, Will Zalatoris, Justin Rose, Harris English, Cole, J.T. Poston, Adrian Meronk, Adam Hadwin, and Nicolai Hjogaard.
Four invitees—Luke List, Erik van Rooyen, Camilo Villegas, and Ludvig Aberg—earned their spots by winning fall PGA Tour events. The Latin American Amateur Championship winner in January will also join, and one more player will emerge from PGA Tour events or the top 50 by April 7.
Augusta National aims for a sub-100 field, a threshold last surpassed in 1966 with 103 players. Notable near-misses include Chris Kirk (No. 52) and Matt Kuchar (No. 54), the latter accustomed to hovering on the bubble.
Reflecting on his ranking, Kuchar remarked, “I’ve never been one to think, ‘I need to play well this week because I’m 53rd in the world.’ If you didn’t tell me where I was in the world ranking, I could not have told you. I’ve always thought your best chance to play good golf is to just go out and do it, and not because you have to do it.”