LIV Golf captain Joaquín Niemann will return to the United States with rising PGA Tour star Nicolai Højgaard after receiving an invitation to play in the first major of the season Masters.
Augusta National Golf Club President Fred Ridley announced Wednesday that golfers have accepted special invitations, bringing the current field to 87 players.
The Masters will be held April 10-13.
“In support of Augusta National’s efforts to cultivate interest in golf around the world, throughout the history of the tournament, international players who are not eligible have been invited,” Ridley said. “We welcome Nicola “
Niemann, 26, will compete in his sixth consecutive Masters. He has advanced in each of his past four games. Last year, Niemann became the only LIV golfer to receive a special invitation from the Masters after winning the DP World Tour Australian Open in December 2023.
Neiman is tied for 22nd at the 2024 Masters at 4 over, 15 strokes behind winner Scotty Scheffler.
Niemann, who is from Chile, won twice on the LIV Golf Tour last season. He also finished tied for ninth at the Paris Olympics. In the final two months of 2024, Niemann tied for seventh at the DP World Tour Championship and fifth at the Australian Open before winning the Asian Tour PIF Saudi International on December 7.
Hojgaard, who hails from Denmark, has been in the top six of the Masters rankings through the first three rounds of his 2024 debut. Stay ahead briefly. He finished tied for 16th at 2 over.
Hoygaard, ranked 60th in the world, capped 2024 with five consecutive top-25 finishes on the DP World Tour. He finished runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2024 and has two top-25 finishes in 18 starts on the PGA Tour.
Hoygaard’s twin brother, Rasmus, will make his Augusta National debut in April. This will be the first time the twins will compete in the same Masters.
At least one amateur player, the winner of the Latin American Amateur Championship from January 16 to 19, will be added to the entry list. Winners of upcoming PGA Tour perfect-score events (who would otherwise have been ineligible) will also be invited, along with all golfers in the OWGR top 50 announced the week before the Masters.
