Joaquin Niemann, a participant in LIV Golf, is set to return to the Masters, marking the second consecutive year that he has received a special invitation from Augusta National. This decision highlights the club’s willingness to extend its reach by selecting international talent beyond the traditional tours.
Nicolai Hojgaard, a surprising addition to the Masters invitees, joins Niemann. At just 23 years of age, Hojgaard has recently completed his first full season on the PGA Tour but has not achieved a top-10 finish since his participation in last year’s Masters. His twin brother, Rasmus, has already secured a spot by finishing within the top 50 in world rankings at the end of 2024. This marks a historic occasion as it will be the first time twins compete in the same Masters, having played together at the British Open for the past two years.
Niemann’s selection is particularly noteworthy as he becomes the first golfer since Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa to receive special invitations for two consecutive years; this reflects Augusta National’s strategy to look beyond conventional tours to build its competitive field. Since the inception of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league in June 2022, Niemann remains the only player from that circuit to be granted an invitation.
Chairman Fred Ridley expressed support for Augusta National’s ongoing efforts to cultivate global interest in golf, acknowledging that the tradition of extending invitations to deserving international players continues. “We welcome Nicolai and Joaquin back to the Masters, as both players have showcased their talent while competing around the world,” he stated in an official release.
The LIV Golf league does not award world ranking points due to its closed roster structure, posing challenges for its players to break into the top 50—a crucial benchmark for global competitors. Niemann has been actively participating in events outside of LIV Golf in order to qualify for major tournaments. His competitive performances include a fifth-place finish in the Australian PGA Championship, a victory at the Australian Open at the end of 2023, and a tie for fourth in the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour earlier in 2024, which may have influenced the club’s decision to invite him.
Previously placing 22nd in last year’s Masters, Niemann concluded the current year with a tie for seventh at the DP World Tour Championship, a fifth-place finish in the Australian Open, and a win at the Saudi International on the Asian Tour. His current world ranking stands at 71.
For PGA Tour members, obtaining special invitations to the Masters tends to be more challenging due to their numerous qualification routes, which include winning one of the 40 regular tournaments or qualifying for the Tour Championship. Hojgaard, although not making the FedEx Cup playoffs after 17 starts, had notable performances, including a brief stint leading in the third round of the Masters, where he ultimately finished with a 76.
After his tie for 16th during last year’s Masters, Hojgaard achieved additional top finishes, placing seventh in the Olympics and tying for ninth in the Genesis Championship held in South Korea. The special invitations have expanded the field for the Masters to 87 golfers, with more participants awaiting confirmation based on upcoming events, including the Latin America Amateur champion, PGA Tour winners from certain tournaments, and any player listed within the top 50 in world rankings published before the Masters.
