There is one spot left at Augusta National.
And there is one chance left to catch it.
At the conclusion of the Houston Open last week, Augusta National officially invited winner (Gary Woodland) as well as four pros who had solidified their places inside the OWGR top 50 (Nicolai Hojgaard, Jake Knapp, Matt McCarty, Daniel Berger) before the deadline. (Here’s hoping they got the overnight delivery some green envelopes from Augusta. Plus maybe an email confirmation?)
Because Augusta invites every PGA Tour winner from a full event since last year’s Masters, this week’s Valero Texas Open includes the last-chance exception. If someone already out wins this week – Tommy Fleetwood, say, or Ludvig Aberg, the two pre-tournament favorites – that spot evaporates. But there are dozens of talented pros just four great rounds from winning the opportunity to play four more great rounds.
Here are five of those players.
1. Rickie Fowler
Fowler bogeyed two of his first four holes at TPC San Antonio, only spiking his ascent — but as I write these words he’s back with a four-under back nine to open at two-under 70. Fowler has quietly put together a very consistent stretch of golf dating back to last summer. Before missing last week’s match, he had recorded six top-20s in eight starts. DataGolf still has him as the 25th ranked golfer in the world, the highest of any player not in the Masters field. But the OWGR rewards very high finishes on consistency, and despite his strong play, Fowler hasn’t had a top five since 2024, so he’s No. 65 on the OWGR and on the outside looking in. Fowler has somehow played just one of the last five Masters tournaments; he is looking for his last chance to make it two in six.
2. Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris just made eight birdies in an opening round of five-under 67 and sits just one shot off the lead. We’re only a quarter of the way through, so it’s too early for anything but what-ifs and wild speculation, but the golf world would be thrilled to see Zalatoris seal his comeback with a win and a major.
Zalatoris didn’t make it on the PGA Tour between the PGA Championship last May until this January’s American Express, where he finished T18. it withdrew from Cognizant shortly before his first-round bout with an ankle injury — reportedly unrelated to his previous back procedures. He’s #299 on the OWGR, so that would come out of left field. What a story that would be.
3. Michael Thorbjornsen
Thorbjornsen looked like he could seal his place in the OWGR top 50 through the Players Championship, where he played in the final pair, but struggled to a 77 Sunday that saw him fall to T22. He also faltered with a 72 Sunday at the Houston Open, leaving him T14 — and no. 54 in the OWGR.
No one doubts Thorbjornsen’s incredible talent; he’s on the rise, he looks like he’ll be a central figure on the PGA Tour for years to come, and it seems extremely likely that he’ll be on other Master of the year. He simply cannot threaten in this.
4. Tony’s contradiction
As noted by Jeff Eisenband below, Tony Finau is on the verge of ending his streak of major championships played at 33. Finau is No. 107 on the OWGR, though he’s had solid shots with three top-20s in seven starts in 2026. Looks like there are more F majors left. Check out those nine top 10s from 2018-2021! That next rally could begin this week.
Tony Finau has played in 33 consecutive major championships. He has played in every @TheMasters since 2018. He hasn’t lost a major since the 2017 US Open.
His latest shot at extending that streak to 34 consecutive championships requires him to win this week’s game @valerotxopen. pic.twitter.com/7KhcK7FDgO
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) April 1, 2026
5. Keith Mitchell
Cashmere Keith is another pro in relatively strong form — he’s made 12 straight cuts, including five top-20s — but although he’s 44th in the DataGolf rankings, he’s only 104th in the OWGR. There is a lot of good news with Mitchell’s game; he’s been consistently great off the tee, his iron game has been strong, he’s top 20 on tour from tee to green. If he finds a hot shooter this week, who knows? Mitchell could be in his third career Masters.
Otherwise these five will be watching next year. Many others will too.
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