LIV Golf League captain Joaquín Niemann returns to the Masters in April, along with rising PGA Tour star Nicolai Højgaard, after golfers received invitations to play in the first major tournament of the season.
Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced that golfers accepted special invitations Wednesday, bringing the field to 87 players.
The Masters will be played on April 10-13.
“To support Augusta National’s efforts to promote interest in the game of golf around the world, eligible international players who would otherwise not qualify have been invited to the tournament’s history,” Ridley said. “The tradition continues as we welcome Nicolai and Joaquin back to the Masters, as both players have shown their talent while competing around the world. We look forward to their arrival this April.”
Niemann, 26, will be making his sixth consecutive Masters; made a contribution in the last fourth. Last year, Niemann was the only LIV Golf player to receive an exclusive invitation to the Masters after winning the Australian Open on the DP World Tour in December 2023.
Neimann is tied for 22nd at the 2024 Masters at 4 over, 15 strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
Niemann, from Chile, won twice on the LIV Golf circuit last season. He also took ninth place in the Paris Olympics. In the last two months of 2024, Niemann took part in seventh place in the DP World Tour Championship and fifth in the Australian Open, before winning the PIF Saudi International of the Asian Tour on December 7.
Højgaard, of Denmark, was in the top six on the Masters leaderboard after each of the first three rounds in his 2024 debut. He carded a 5-under 67 in the first round and took a short lead in the third. He is tied for 16th at 2 over.
Ranked No. 60 in the world, Højgaard closed 2024 with five consecutive top-25 finishes on the DP World Tour. He finished second in the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2024 and had two top-25 finishes in 18 starts on the PGA Tour.
Højgaard’s twin brother, Rasmus, will make his Augusta National debut in April. It will be the first time the twins have competed in the same Masters tournament.
At least one freshman, who won the Latin America Amateur Championship on Jan. 16-19, will be added to the field. Winners of upcoming PGA Tour full-point events who are not otherwise eligible will also be invited, as well as any golfers in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking published the week before the Masters.
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