Masters spot on the line for these PGA Tour stars | Golf News

The 2026 Masters area is almost full, with the Valero Texas Open representing the last probability for a number of high-profile gamers to secure an invitation by claiming the match title.

The 50 leaders on the last Official World Golf Ranking for the earlier calendar yr and those printed during the week prior to the Masters Tournament are robotically enrolled, leaving the last invite to the winner of the Valero Texas Open.

Four gamers secured their spots at the Houston Open, including champion Gary Woodland, runner-up Nicolai Hojgaard, Jake Knapp, Daniel Berger and Matt McCarty. Nevertheless, a number of notable names are still battling for a place at Augusta National at TPC San Antonio.

Hojgaard and Woodland had already locked up their invites to Augusta and subsequently withdrew from the last pre-Masters match.

Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler, ranked 61st in the OWGR, entered the Houston Open in a bid to earn an invitation but finally missed the cut.

Fowler failed to make the cut in Houston following a T-42 end at the Players Championship and a top-10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Tony Finau is also absent from the Augusta area, having been cut last yr after taking pictures four-over during the opening two rounds.

“I hope I just need to continue to be patient,” said Finau after the 2021 Masters match with a T-10 end. “I just keep — I think a lot of these tournaments just keep reminding myself how good I am in these moments and that I think I have what it takes. I have to keep believing. There’s no quit in me, and that’s just how I am. I’ll keep trying to persevere and just get after the next one.”

Atlanta Drive’s TGL standout Billy Horschel is also eyeing a victory at the Valero Texas Open, having entered the 2026 season without an invitation to the prestigious major event. He had no reservations about including another match before the close of 2025 in a bid to break into the top-50.

“Before Utah, I used to be pondering about taking part in Bermuda and Cabo (Mexico),” Horschel said at the Sony Open. “But I got what I needed out of my three events. I was trying to get back into the groove of things, see where my game was.”

Now in rivalry for a coveted spot, Horschel has one last alternative to secure his invitation.

“I’m betting on myself,” Horschel declared forward of the Houston Open, though he finally fell short of cracking the top-50.

“My wife is always very honest. She said, ‘If you miss the Masters, and don’t qualify for The Players, you need to make sure you’re not second-guessing yourself.’ You make your decision, you make your bed. If I don’t make The Players or Masters, I’m not going to say I should have played.”

Sahith Theegala, presently ranked world No. 71, is another notable absence from the area despite ending in the top-10 in Houston. However, following 4 consecutive tour begins, he will not be contending in Texas, as he’s set to return for the tour’s signature event at the RBC Heritage.