FAQs
Masters 2022: Frequently Asked Questions
Kevin C. Cox
It's somehow been 12 months already since Dustin Johnson presented Hideki Matsuyama with a green jacket, and we're closing in on another chance for a golfer to make his mark on Augusta National and its history. Matsuyama will, of course, return to attempt to defend his first major and he will be joined by a loaded field, which may or may not include that Tiger Woods guy.
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the upcoming Masters.
When is the 2022 Masters?
The 2022 Masters will take place April 7-10.
Will there be patrons at the 2022 Masters?
After a finite amount were allowed in 2021 and none were in attendance at the November 2020 Masters, Augusta National will be back to normal with patrons. The price of a series badge remains $375, which covers admission for all four tournament days. The lottery has already been held for this year, but keep a lookout for 2023.
Where is the Masters played?
The Masters is played each year at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. It’s the only one of the four men’s major championships that is played every year on the same course.
How can I watch the Masters?
The Masters is broadcast on TV on ESPN for first- and second-round coverage on Thursday and Friday (3-7:30 p.m. EDT) and on CBS for the Saturday's third round (3-7 p.m. EDT) and Sunday's final round (2-7 p.m. EDT).
A general view during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2019 Masters.
David Cannon
Will there be other ways to watch the Masters besides ESPN and CBS?
Yes, as always, there will be live featured group and featured holes coverage on Masters.com. Viewers will also be able to see every shot from every hole on Masters.com. This year, the website also will allow you to build a personalized feed of every shot from your favorite players.
Will there be a Par 3 Contest at the 2022 Masters?
The Par 3 Contest will return this year after being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. It will start at noon on Wednesday, April 6.
What is the Champions Dinner?
The Champions Dinner is held Tuesday night of Masters week, and the only way to get in is to be a past champion of the Masters. It was started in 1952 by Ben Hogan. Tradition calls for the previous year’s champion to set the dinner menu each new year.
Gene Sarazen (left), Bobby Jones (seated) and Clifford Roberts at the Sarazen Bridge dedication during the 1955 Masters.
Augusta National
Who founded Augusta National, and who designed it?
Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The course was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie.
What’s the par at Augusta National, and how long is the course?
Augusta National is a par 72, and it has been lengthened considerably in recent years. With changes to the 11th and 15th holes, the course has been stretched to 7,510 yards for 2022.
When was the first Masters played? And who won?
The first Masters was played in 1934, and Horton Smith won by two strokes with a score of four-under-par 284.
How many Masters have been played?
This year will mark the 86th playing of the Masters.
What is the format of the Masters? How many players are in the field?
The Masters is a 72-hole stroke-play event contested over four days. The field is one of the smaller ones on the PGA Tour schedule, typically featuring between 90-100 players.
How do you qualify for the Masters?
There are no qualifying tournaments for the Masters, and no alternate spots in the field. Players get into the Masters by invitation only if they fulfill one of the 19 criteria, which can be found here at Masters.com. There are special exemptions given out as well, but they are rare.
How many players make the cut at the Masters?
In order to make the cut after 36 holes, players must be in the top 50 places, counting ties. Previously, those within 10 strokes of the lead also made the cut, but that rule was changed for the 2020 Masters.
What is the purse for the Masters, and how much does the winner get?
The official Masters purse is announced during Masters week. In 2021, the total purse was $11.5 million, with winner Hideki Matsuyama receiving $2,070,000.
How much does the runner-up get?
The Masters trophy that the winner earns in addition to claiming the green jacket.
Rusty Jarrett/Augusta National
At the 2021 Masters, the runner-up Will Zalatoris at nine under received $1,242,000. Any player that finishes inside the top 25 earns a minimum of $100,000.
Does the Masters winner receive anything else?
Yes, the winner receives a sterling replica of the Masters trophy, a gold medal and the club’s famous green jacket, which was first given out in 1949.
Do you get a new green jacket if you win the Masters again?
No, a player that wins the Masters multiple times receives the same green jacket from his initial win, unless he needs to be refitted.
In the event of a tie at the end of 72 holes, how is the winner decided at the Masters?
If players are tied after 72 holes, the winner is decided in a sudden-death playoff, beginning at the 18th hole and going to the 10th hole if necessary. If it goes to a third hole, it would go back to the 18th. Prior to 1979, tournaments that ended in a tie were decided by an 18-hole playoff.
How many sudden-death playoffs have there been in Masters history?
Ben Walton
There have been 11 sudden-death playoffs in Masters history, and none of them have ever advanced past two holes. The last came in 2017 when Sergio Garcia held off Justin Rose.
Who won the 2021 Masters?
Hideki Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters, earning his first major victory. He also became the first Japanese player and the first Asian-born player to win the tournament.
Is Tiger Woods playing in the Masters this year?
That's a good question. We'll certainly need to update this answer relatively soon. Woods, who suffered severe leg injuries in a car accident in February 2021, hasn't played in a PGA Tour event since the November 2020 Masters. It would appear, however, that he is trying to play this year, having been reportedly seen practicing at his home course in Florida. He also traveled to Augusta on March 29 to play a practice round and see if his leg would be able to handle the hilly walk involved in playing Augusta. He still hasn't said one way or the other what he'll do, but trust us, you'll know right away if he's playing.
When did Tiger Woods win his first Masters?
Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997 at the age of 21. That was 25 years ago and he is still the youngest player to ever win the Masters.
Has any player ever won back-to-back Masters?
Jack Nicklaus slips on the green jacket after winning the Masters for the sixth time in 1986.
Leonard Kamsler/Popperfoto
Yes, three players have defended their title at the Masters, Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-2002).
Who has won the most Masters?
Jack Nicklaus has won the Masters a record six times (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986). Tiger Woods has won it five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019). Arnold Palmer won it four times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964).
What is the scoring record at the Masters?
Dustin Johnson broke the previous scoring record held by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth (18-under 270) when he shot a 20-under 268 total at the November 2020 Masters.
What is the largest margin of victory at the Masters?
Tiger Woods’ victory in 1997 was by 12 strokes, which is the largest margin in Masters history.
What’s the highest winning score of the Masters?
Jordan Spieth is the last Masters winner to go wire-to-wire en route to victory.
Ezra Shaw
The highest winning score of the Masters is one-over-par 289. Three players have won at one over: Sam Snead (1954), Jack Burke, Jr. (1956) and Zach Johnson (2007).
Has anyone ever won the Masters wire-to-wire?
Yes, five players have won the Masters wire-to-wire: Craig Wood (1941), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Raymond Floyd (1976) and Jordan Spieth (2015).
Has an amateur ever won the Masters?
No, an amateur has never won the Masters.
What’s the closest an amateur has ever come to winning the Masters?
Three players have finished runner-up at the Masters: Frank Stranahan (1947), Ken Venturi (1956) and Charles Coe (1961).
Does the low amateur receive an award?
Yes, each year the lowest amateur to make the cut is awarded with the Silver Cup, which was first given in 1952. In 1954, they also began presenting a silver medal to the second-lowest amateur.
What is the amateur scoring record at the Masters?
The amateur scoring record is seven-under-par (281), shot by Charles Coe in 1961.
Who is the youngest player to ever compete in the Masters?
The youngest player to ever play in the Masters is China’s Tianlang Guan, who competed in the event in 2013 at age 14, having qualified by winning the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. He’s also the youngest player to ever make the cut in a major championship.
Will the Augusta National Women's Amateur be played?
The Drive, Chip and Putt winners in 2019.
Rusty Jarrett/Augusta National
Yes, the Augusta National Women's Amateur, started in 2019, will be played once again in 2022 with its final round March 30. This is the third iteration of this event with Tsubasa Kajitani winning in 2021 and Jennifer Kupcho winning in its inaugural year of 2019 (the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID).
Will the Drive, Chip and Putt Competition be played?
Yes, the National Drive, Chip and Putt Final, first held in 2013, is back again. It will be held Sunday, April 3 and will include 80 boys and girls, ages 7-15 competing in different age groups.
What is Magnolia Lane?
Magnolia Lane is the main driveway leading from Washington Road to Augusta National’s clubhouse. It’s called Magnolia Lane because there are Magnolia trees lined on each side the entire way to the clubhouse.
What is Amen Corner?
Amen Corner is the name for a three-hole stretch of the course beginning with the par-4 11th hole, and including the par-3 12th and par-5 13th. The term was coined by author Herbert Warren Wind when he used it in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article, specifically referring to the approach shot on the 11th, the entire 12th hole and the first two shots on the 13th. This “corner” of the golf course is where some of the tournament’s most historic moments have taken place.
What is Rae’s Creek?
Rae’s Creek is a creek that cuts through the southeast corner of Augusta National, flowing along the back of the 11th green, front of the 12th green and ahead of the 13th tee.
What is the Crow’s Nest?
The Crow’s Nest is a cabin on the property of Augusta National open to any amateur in the Masters field that wants to stay there.
Jeff Knox playing as a marker with Bubba Watson at the 2020 Masters.
What is Butler Cabin?
Butler Cabin is a cabin on the property where the winner of the Masters is presented with the green jacket, put on him by the previous year’s champion. The field’s low amateur to make the cut is also present during the presentation, as well as CBS’ Jim Nantz.
Who is Jeff Knox?
Jeff Knox is a member at Augusta National, and he is known for often playing in the Masters some years as a “marker”. This means when there are an odd number of players who make the cut, Knox will play alongside one of the competitors for pace-of-play purposes. He’s somewhat of a legend because of how good of a player he is himself.
How many World Ranking points does the winner of the Masters receive?
The winner of the Masters receives 100 world ranking points.
How many FedEx Cup points does the Masters winner receive?
The winner of the Masters receives 600 FedEx Cup points.
How much do Masters tickets cost?
Augusta National would prefer you call them “badges,” and depending on the day, Masters badges can range from anywhere between $500 and $1,500 on the secondary market. Or, you can take your chances and sign up for the yearly Masters ticket lottery, which can get you much cheaper tickets if you are selected.
How many people attend the Masters?
One of the many pieces of information Augusta National doesn’t make public is the attendance size of the Masters.
Can anyone play Augusta National?
No. Augusta National is a private club only open to members and their guests.
Will Rickie Fowler be in the Masters field?
Unless Fowler wins the Valero Texas Open, he will not earn an invitation into the 2022 Masters. It would mark the second time (2021) he's missed the event since 2010.