The Masters has always symbolized tradition, but even Augusta National knows the game can’t stay stuck in the past. Starting in 2026, the tournament will invite winners of six major national opens outside the U.S. This will include the Scottish, Spanish, Japanese, Hong Kong, Australian, and South African Opens. It’s a big step toward making golf feel truly global, and one Irishman’s voice helped push that shift more than most.

When Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley faced the media for the first time since the announcement, he made sure to credit the four-time major winner, Rory McIlroy when discussing the motivation behind the change. “We [were] certainly happy to hear Rory say that,” Ridley said. “He’s been a great representative of the game and a great representative as the Masters champion. I think his view of the game is a global game as well. Having his endorsement of that [national opens] concept we welcomed and I suspect that many other players like Rory felt the same way.”

According to Golf Digest, the 20x DP World Tour winner had said that the Down Under tournament “should almost be the fifth major. The market down there is huge with potential.” McIlroy praised the tournament, which features events in Australia and New Zealand, showing his global game. Ridley shared similar comments when announcing the new change. “The Masters Tournament has long recognized the significance of having international representation among its invitees,” Ridley said.

While Rory McIlroy’s comments and views boost Ridley’s confidence, the inspiration for the change was actually the growing international competition. Ridley said that there are many golfers who have come from these countries. Therefore, it felt right to extend invitations to the winners of those 6 championships.

Thus, Chris Gotterup, who won the Scottish Open; Marco Penge, who won the Spanish Open; and Kataoka Naoyuki, who won the Japan Open, will get to play the Masters. The remaining three national opens are yet to be played before the Masters in April 2026. The Hong Kong Open is scheduled for the end of October 2025, while the Australian Open will be played later in December 2025. Since the South African Open is played at the end of February 2026, which is before the Masters, the new winner at the 2026 event will be invited instead of those who won the 2025 tournament.

This change will enable golfers from different countries to compete at the biggest event in professional golf. The chairman of the Augusta National, therefore, praised the 29x PGA Tour winner. Unlike Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy himself has played at various golf courses across countries. Scheffler has clearly denied playing much outside of the USA. “I haven’t really played too much golf internationally,” he told reporters at The Renaissance Club, ahead of the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open. “With the way our schedule is on the [PGA Tour], the thing that’s most important to me is my time at home. It would be wonderful to be able to play an international schedule, but right now we play most of our tournaments in the States, and I come over here for these few weeks.”

Over time, many international golfers have triumphed at Augusta National before. With the inclusion of invitations to new winners, the list will surely grow in the future.

International golfer triumphs at Augusta National

South African golfer Gary Player was the first international golfer to reach the top at The Masters in 1961. He edged past the veteran USA golfer Arnold Palmer to finish at 8 under par to win in 1961. But that’s not all, the legendary golfer conquered Augusta National twice more, in 1974 and then again in 1978. For nearly twenty years, he stood alone as the only non-American Masters champion.

That changed when Spain’s Seve Ballesteros burst onto the scene in 1980. His fearless style and flair made him an instant Augusta favorite, and his two wins opened the floodgates for golfers around the world. Soon, champions from Europe, Asia, and beyond began leaving their mark at the Masters. Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, and Ian Woosnam all brought the green jacket home to Europe. Later, names like Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Adam Scott, and Hideki Matsuyama carried the legacy forward. Each win was another reminder that the Masters had truly become a global stage.

More recently, Spanish golfer Jon Rahm won The Masters in the 2022-2023 season. He edged past veterans Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, and Patrick Reed to finish at 12 under par and win the event. The last international star to win at the Augusta National was Rory McIlroy, who did it in 2025. By defeating England’s Justin Rose, McIlroy completed his career grand slam this year.