Golf

Masters 2024: Tickets, Schedule, Contestants and What to Expect

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Apr 08, 2024 / 6413 Views

Evan Walker

The 2024 Masters tournament, which marks the first of the year’s four Major Golf championships, is upon us. Taking place from April 11 to 14, the Masters transcends monetary rewards; it embodies the allure of the iconic Green Jacket, the weight of History, and the relentless pursuit of excellence on the legendary fairways of the Augusta National Golf Club. Read on for everything you need to know about the 2024 Masters, from its schedule and key dates to contestants, tickets and prize money.

Since its debut in 1934, the Masters has been held amidst blooming azaleas, towering pines, and blossoming dogwoods, creating a stage unique to golf. The current chapter, into its 88th edition, is set in Augusta, Georgia, United States.

Like the exclusive setting, a storyline is waiting to play out, and it’s about turf control in light of the differences between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. After the storm, there is a lull and talk of conciliation, but with nothing on the horizon yet, both parties will be eager to see one of their own put on the Green Jacket come Sunday, April 14, 2024.

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In this game of one-upmanship, the LIV camp will be hoping that Jon Rahm, who was firmly entrenched on the PGA Tour when he won in 2023, will do a repeat, this time as a star of the Saudi-backed league since making the switch late last year.

As we eagerly anticipate the 2024 Masters and the nail-biting action set to unfold on the course, we look back on some of the memorable events that occured at last year’s edition.

A recap of key moments from the 2023 Masters

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Jon Rahm’s victory: The Spaniard overcame challenging weather conditions to win by four shots and earn the coveted Green Jacket. Rahm came back from a double bogey on the first hole of Sunday to demonstrate his fortitude. It marked his second Major triumph, after the 2021 US Open, and became the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters.

Phil Mickelson’s feat: The Hall of Famer began the final round 10 strokes behind overnight leader Brooks Koepka, but signed for an incredible round of 65. He finished T2 after making birdie on five of the last seven holes. At 52, Phil Mickelson, who plays the LIV League, became the oldest player to the feat, setting a new Masters record for the lowest round by a player of 50 or older.

Rory McIlroy’s shocking exit: After he opened with a 72, Rory McIlroy’s struggles were apparent, and they only got worse with the second round 77, and the unexpected early exit sent shock waves through the community.

Brooks Koepka’s Sunday collapse: After winning the LIV Golf event in Orlando the week before, Brooks Koepka came in with a lot of momentum. His Game was outstanding the first three days, going into Sunday with the lead. But an unexpected meltdown pushed him to a tie for the second place with Phil Mickelson.

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Tiger Woods’ 23rd consecutive cut: Prior to pulling out of the Masters after aggravating his plantar fasciitis condition over the weekend, Tiger Woods made his 23rd straight cut to tie the record of Fred Couples and Gary Player.

The 2023 Masters was particularly noteworthy as it took place in the thick of the controversy surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Since professional golf was split with the formation of LIV Golf in 2022, this was the first time that golfers from LIV and PGA Tour competed on the same platform, and the hostility was palpable.

Despite the harsh criticism on all fronts regarding the outrageous sums LIV had splashed on signing golf stars, LIV placed three players — Mickelson, Koepka, and Patrick Reed — in the top five. Overall, 12 LIV players made the cut last year.

2024 Masters: Schedule, key dates, tickets, contestants and other details

2024 Masters Schedule

The 2024 Masters is slated to take place from Thursday, April 11, to Sunday, April 14, 2024, with practice rounds beginning early from April 8 — here’s the full schedule below.

Monday, April 8: Practice round
Tuesday, April 9: Practice round
Wednesday, April 10: Par 3 contest
Thursday, April 11: First round
Friday, April 12: Second round
Saturday, April 13: Third round
Sunday, April 14: Fourth round (the Green Jacket ceremony is scheduled for 7pm EDT on April 14/ 7am HKT on April 15).

Course Information

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Of the four Majors, only the Masters is held at the same venue every year — the venerable turf of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Designer: Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie
Established: 1933
Par: 72
Holes: 18
Length: 7,555 yards (for the 2024 Masters)

The Augusta National is an 18-hole course that challenges the best in the business. The course measures 7,555 yards from the longest tees and has a par of 72. The well-kept fairways, sloping greens, and strategically positioned bunkers provide for an unmatched round of golf and adds to the character of the course.

Every hole at Augusta National has an individual personality and moniker. Some of the holes and elements that set Augusta National apart are as follows:

Hole No. 12 (“Golden Bell”): A scenic par-3 above Rae’s Creek, where the whirling winds necessitate precision.
Hole No. 16 (“Redbud”): A par-3 with azaleas all around it, this one is played entirely over water.
Hole No. 18 (“Holly”): The spectacular finale with a tight fairway and a green defended by bunkers.
Amen Corner: Holes 11, 12, and 13 make up the ‘Amen Corner’, a crucial stretch that has the power to make or break a player’s round.
Magnolia Lane: The grand entryway, surrounded by tall Magnolia trees, which sets the tone for the Masters every year.

2024 Masters Contestants and Field

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Only invited players can participate in the Masters tournament, which has the smallest field among the four Majors. Invites consider several factors, like past winners, recent Major champions, top PGA Tour performers, and Official World Golf Ranking.

Wildcards also get invited at the discretion of the Masters’ committee. Players who have won prestigious competitions on the amateur circuit make up the remaining field. Recently, the 2024 Masters field was listed on the official tournament website, formally identifying its players.

Presently, 105 professionals and amateurs, including former winners with lifetime exemptions, have been invited to participate. Only 88 of the invitees have been listed on the official website as probable participants.

Defending champion Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris, Phil Mickelson, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, and possibly Tiger Woods are some of the top names who will play the 2024 Masters.

Tiger Woods’ Status

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The field announced by the Masters on its website features the 48-year-old Woods as one of the participants. After winning five Green Jackets during his phenomenal career, Woods is eligible to participate in the Masters for the rest of his life as a past champion.

However, Woods’ inclusion does not necessarily imply that he will tee off. He is restricted by injuries, and had just two PGA Tour starts in 2023 before an ankle surgery. He made the cut in his appearance at the Masters in 2023, but withdrew over the weekend.

Only twice in the last four years has Woods finished all four rounds of an official tournament. Despite all the hurdles, Woods’ inclusion in the 2024 field is exciting news for fans who are eagerly await his return since he withdrew from the 2024 Genesis Invitational in February.

LIV golfers at 2024 Masters

Several LIV golfers will compete at the 2024 Masters, although fewer than last year. Around 13 LIV golfers will play the Augusta National this year, and the names include Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Tyrrell Hatton, Adrian Meronk, Joaquin Niemann, and Charl Schwartzel.

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf are still at odds as the 2024 Masters commences. Despite both sides’ outward efforts to downplay the us-versus-them storyline, officials of both tours will undoubtedly be keen to see one of their stars win at Augusta, even as negotiations continue in the background.

Prize Money

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As with the 2023 edition, a total prize money of USD 18 million is on offer at the 2024 Masters. The top-finishing golfer will take home a whopping USD 3.24 million in prize money. The remainder of the purse is allocated incrementally according to placement.

2024 Masters Tickets

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Tickets to the Masters must be purchased online in advance from the Major’s website here. You can choose between practice rounds tickets and daily tournament tickets, and can apply to attend any or all of the event’s days but will only be able to secure tickets for one day.

Practice round tickets are priced at USD 100 (excluding shipping and handling fees), while the coveted daily tournament tickets — which are limited in quantity — will set you back by USD 140 without shipping and handling fees.

The tickets are allocated based on a selection process, and only one application per person or address will be considered. All tickets to the 2024 Masters have been snapped up as the application deadline was June 20, 2023, but interested parties may register for 2025 tickets soon. Follow these steps to do so:

Create a free account on the website here.
Applications for 2025 Masters tickets will open from June 1 to June 20, 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified and must make their payments in mid July, 2024.

More details can also be found here.

(Main and featured image: Keyur Khamar/ PGA Tour via Getty Images)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– When and where will the 2024 Masters be staged?

The Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, will host the Masters Tournament this year. The tournament is scheduled between April 11 to 14.

– How much do tickets for the 2024 Masters cost?

Tickets to the Masters have to be bought nearly a year in advance from the Major’s website — practice round tickets were priced at USD 100 and daily tournament tickets at USD 140, when applications opened in June 2023. All the tickets have since been allocated.

With the actual event commencing in a few days, and practice rounds already underway, the only option for fans who want to attend the 2024 Masters is to buy tickets from the open market. The price range for practice round tickets for Monday, April 8, Tuesday, April 9, and Wednesday, April 10, is approximately USD 1,361, USD 1,522, and USD 2,268, respectively.

Additionally, fans can decide to pay about USD 6,927 for tickets to all four rounds. It is important to remember that prices may vary as the event draws closer.

– Who is favoured to win the Masters 2024?

Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and Joaquin Nieman are among the top favourites to win the 2024 Masters.

– How many Masters has Tiger Woods won?

With five Green Jackets since his first win in 1997, Tiger Woods is a win away from matching Jack Nicklaus’ six titles at Augusta. But given his recent battles with injuries and form, it will be a summit to climb for Woods.