Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A on Tuesday released a joint statement that the two plan to align aspects of the qualifying criteria for the Masters and The Open. Beginning in 2026, both major championships will invite the winners of select national open championships across several international tours.

The Masters and Open Championship changed their qualifying criteria by eliminating invitations to PGA Tour winners in the fall and recognizing winners of six national opens on every main tour in the world.

Augusta National and the R&A announced that winners of national opens will now receive invitations to the Masters and Open Championship. In a joint press release Tuesday morning, the club and governing body asserted the updated qualification criteria “builds on the R&A’s longstanding and successful Open Qualifying Series and will ensure strong