Hope springs eternal.
The Masters ticket raffle window is officially open and it’s time for everyone to throw their scraps of paper into the virtual hat to see if they’ll be lucky enough to win a ticket to the 2027 tour.
Augusta National does not disclose how many “patrons” attend the tournament, but the ways to get inside the gates are limited. There are only a few paths, which I described here.
Main street? Winning the lottery.
How do you do this? Lots of luck, to be sure.
But if you really want to go to the Masters, there is a way to stack the deck in your favor.
How does the Masters ticket lottery work?
Assuming you don’t know someone who has a badge or an extra ticket, the only option for reasonably priced tickets (~$125-$160 depending on the day) will be through the lottery system.
The Masters allows the general public to apply for tickets, awarding an undisclosed number of passes.
Here’s how it works.
The application window begins on June 1 and closes on June 20. You can apply at any time during these three weeks. It doesn’t matter when you apply.
On your application – only one address per home is allowed – you will be able to apply for each day (Monday-Sunday). The number of days or number of tickets you apply for does not affect your chances of winning. If you apply for multiple days and win, you will only be awarded on one of the days. However, you will win the number of tickets you applied for.
You can choose up to four tickets on practice round days (Monday-Wednesday) and up to two tickets on tournament days (Thursday-Sunday).
If you have won (or not won) tickets, you will be notified in mid to late July. At that point, winners will be able to pay for them through the Masters website.
You can apply for Masters tickets at this link.
The tickets arrive in a nice green envelope—even though it’s not past the third week of March.
How to stack the deck in your favor
When you walk through the gates of Augusta National to enter the Masters, it’s a truly surreal experience.
It is also a minimalist. You can’t take your phone and all you need is your wallet, car keys, a camera (if you’re attending a practice day) and maybe a chair if you want to take it.
One thing you don’t need to enter? Your ID.
If you have a Masters ticket, no one asks you to prove you were a lottery winner. You only have one ticket like everyone else entering.
I mention this because it brings up a clear strategy for getting into the Masters: get everyone and your dog to apply for tickets.
Now, as mentioned, only one application can be sent per residential address. You may not submit five applications per household.
But your in-laws who have no interest in golf? That crazy aunt who lives in the mountains? Your half-sibling you haven’t spoken to in 20 years?
Anyone can apply and anyone can win.
You can gather a small army of family and friends to apply, either on your behalf or with the promise that you will all go if the lottery route is successful.
Make sure all those people know what the deal is if they win. Maybe you pay an extra $50 per ticket to the person who won them for you or agree to get some Masters merchandise as a thank you. Whatever the case, just make sure you’re on the same page.
What if I still don’t get tickets?
The odds are not in your favor to win Masters tickets. Is there another way to go?
Yes, of course. how much money do you have
Masters tickets will be available through secondary markets such as StubHub. However, the price is important. I waited in line with a guy who paid $1,800 for a Tuesday ticket, which is pretty standard. Prices vary, but it’s likely to be in that range. Prices seem to be heading north.
Considering the whole trip is very expensive to begin with – flights, hotels, rental cars, merchandise, food, etc. – spending a lot of money per ticket is not feasible for most people.
If you use a secondary market I would also be aware of the shipping details/time and if the ticket is genuine. It is worth choosing a safer option.
There is the option of going to Augusta without a ticket and hoping that the prices will drop – or you can find a scalper on Washington Road. While intraday prices may fall, this is not a strategy I recommend. It’s hard to plan around it and you need a full day to experience everything.
If you desperately want to see the course and aren’t too worried about it being Masters week, you can too apply for tickets to see the Augusta Women’s National Amateur the weekend ahead.
The dates for that application are the same as for the Masters.
That’s it. I wish you luck! May the gnomes lords (which are apparently being discontinued) to be with you.
If you have any specific questions about tickets, you can email me at (email protected).
Top Photo Caption: Masters defenders enter the Augusta National grounds. (Getty Images/Patrick Smith)
