Augusta National issued their first round of Masters invitations this week, with the traditional top 50 players in the world rankings, PGA Tour winners in the months since the last Masters tournament, former Masters winners and the various champions from select amateur tournaments around the globe.
But two players from outside those criteria have also been issued invitations. 2023 European Ryder Cup team member Nicolai Højgaard and two-time PGA Tour and two-time LIV Golf tournament winner Joaquin Niemann also received letters postmarked Augusta, Georgia, and will take their places among the Green Jacket hopefuls.
Højgaard, on his Masters debut in 2024, briefly led the tournament on Saturday playing alongside eventual winner Scottie Scheffler, but slipped down the leaderboard finishing 16th, four places outside the top-12 which would’ve garnered an automatic invitation for the following year.
Now ranked 60th in the world, he’s been overtaken by twin brother Rasmus who will make his Masters debut, becoming the first set of twins ever to compete in the Masters.
Niemann, who has slipped to 71st in the world rankings, finished second in the LIV Golf individual standings in 2024 and will make his sixth appearance in the tournament having first competed as an amateur in 2018 having won the Latin America Amateur Championship earlier that year.
He has yet to miss the cut as a professional and will likely be among the tournament favourites once again after finishing inside the top 25 in his last two Masters tournaments.
The announcement was made by Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley.
“In support of Augusta National’s efforts to develop interest in golf globally, deserving international players not otherwise qualified have been invited throughout the Tournament’s history,” Ridley said.
“The tradition continues as we welcome Nicolai and Joaquin back to the Masters, as both players have showcased their talent while competing around the world.
“We look forward to their arrival this April.”
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