Masters 2024: Answering the most frequently asked questions about the year's first major

It’s somehow already been 12 months since Jon Rahm won his green jacket, besting Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson by four shots during a soggy 72 holes at Augusta National. Now, the Spaniard has joined BK and Lefty as part of LIV Golf, and all three will be back to represent their fledgling tour on golf’s biggest stage, the 2024 Masters Tournament. Everyone who’s everyone will be at Augusta National … except of course for the millions who'll be watching from home dreaming about one day observing the Masters at the Masters.

No matter where you’re watching from, here are some frequently asked questions (and answers!) regarding the first men's major of 2024.

When is the 2024 Masters?

The 2024 Masters will take place April 11-14.

Where is the Masters played?

The Masters is played each year at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. It’s the only one of the four men’s major championships that is played every year on the same course.

Will there be patrons at the 2024 Masters?

Yes, after none were allowed during the November Masters in 2020, and a finite amount was allowed in 2021, the gallery is full again in 2024.

How much is a ticket to the 2024 Masters?

Augusta National would prefer you call them “badges.” The price of a series badge has increased to $450, up 20 percent from 2022, but the badge covers admission for all four tournament days. The lottery has already been held for this year, but keep a lookout for 2025; applications for the yearly lottery are expected to open in June.

On the secondary market, Masters badges can range from anywhere between $500 and $1,500, depending on the day.

RELATED: 50 defining moments in Masters history, ranked

How can I watch the Masters?

The Masters is broadcast on TV on ESPN for first- and second-round coverage on Thursday and Friday (3-7:30 p.m. EDT) and on CBS for Saturday's third round (3-7 p.m. EDT) and Sunday's final round (2-7 p.m. EDT).

Will there be other ways to watch the Masters besides ESPN and CBS?

Yes, as always, there will be live featured groups and featured holes coverage on Masters.com. Viewers also will be able to see every shot from every hole on Masters.com. This year, the website also will allow you to build a personalized feed of every shot from your favorite players.

Will there be a Par-3 Contest at the 2024 Masters?

The Par 3 Contest will start at noon on Wednesday, April 10, and will broadcast live on Masters.com starting at 2 p.m. EDT. The 2023 winner was Tom Hoge. Here’s a fun factoid for you: No winner of the Par-3 contest has gone on to win the Masters in the same year.

What is the Champions Dinner?

The Champions Dinner is held on Tuesday night of Masters week, and the only way to get in is to be a past champion of the Masters. It was started in 1952 by Ben Hogan. Tradition calls for the previous year’s champion to set the dinner menu each new year. This year’s meal has been chosen by defending champ Jon Rahm and features a Spanish feast, which includes three "Basque"-labeled items. The Chuletón a la Parrilla and the Rodaballo al Pil-Pil will be the centerpieces. For those still working on their Duolingo streaks, that's a Basque Ribeye with Tudela Lettuce and Piquillo Peppers and a Turbot with Navarra White Asparagus respectively. We need an invite to this dinner.

Who founded Augusta National, and who designed it?

Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The course was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie.

What’s the par at Augusta National, and how long is the course?

Augusta National is a par 72, and it has been lengthened considerably in recent years. There’s only one minor course change in this iteration as the tee box at the par-5 second hole has extended back and to the left by about 10 yards. That’ll push the total length of the course to 7,555 yards.

RELATED: A Comprehensive History Of Every Change Made To Augusta National Golf Club

When was the first Masters played? And who won?

The first Masters was played in 1934, and Horton Smith won by two strokes with a score of four-under 284.

How many Masters have been played?

This year will mark the 88th playing of the Masters as the first iteration of the event was in 1934.

What is the format of the Masters? How many players are in the field?

The Masters is a 72-hole stroke-play event contested over four days. The field is one of the smaller ones on the PGA Tour schedule, typically featuring between 90-100 players. This year’s event is projected to have 88 golfers competing. That could end up at 89 depending on the winner at the Valero Texas Open.

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How do you qualify for the Masters?

There are no qualifying tournaments for the Masters and no alternate spots in the field. Players get into the Masters by invitation only if they fulfill one of the 19 criteria, which can be found here at Masters.com. There are special exemptions given out as well, but they are rare.

How many players make the cut at the Masters?

In order to make the cut after 36 holes, players must be in the top 50 places, counting ties. Previously, those within 10 strokes of the lead also made the cut, but that rule was changed for the 2020 Masters.

What is the purse for the Masters, and how much does the winner get?

The official Masters purse is announced during Masters week. In 2023, the total purse was $18 million, with winner Jon Rahm receiving $3,240,000.

RELATED: A brief history of the Masters purse

How much does the runner-up get?

At the 2023 Masters, the runners-up Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson at eight under received $1,584,000 each. The top-10 golfers all received at least $432,000.

Does the Masters winner receive anything else?

Yes, the winner receives a sterling replica of the Masters trophy, a gold medal and the club’s famous green jacket, which was first given out in 1949.

Do you get a new green jacket if you win the Masters again?

No, a player who wins the Masters multiple times receives the same green jacket from his initial win, unless he needs to be refitted.

MORE: Augusta National’s most famous myths: real or urban legend?

In the event of a tie at the end of 72 holes, how is the winner decided at the Masters?

If players are tied after 72 holes, the winner is decided in a sudden-death playoff, beginning at the 18th hole and going to the 10th hole if necessary. If it goes to a third hole, it would go back to the 18th and then the 10th and so on. Both holes are par 4s, with the 10th being 30 yards longer. Prior to 1979, tournaments that ended in a tie were decided by an 18-hole playoff.

How many sudden-death playoffs have there been in Masters history?

There have been 11 sudden-death playoffs in Masters history, and none of them have ever advanced past two holes. The last came in 2017 when Sergio Garcia held off Justin Rose.

Who won the 2023 Masters?

Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters, after trailing Brooks Koepka by two strokes to start the final 18 holes. The Spaniard birdied Nos. 13 and 14 and then parred his last four holes to finish at 12 under. Due to rain, the conclusion of the third round and the entire final round took place on Sunday.

Is Tiger Woods playing in the Masters this year?

That's a good question, and the answer is … probably. Woods has played at the Masters two years in a row after his horrific 2021 car accident. He has only played sparingly over that same time period in other tournaments but has made it a priority to tee off at Augusta National. He reportedly played a practice round at Augusta National with ANGC chairman Fred Ridley and Woods’ good buddy Justin Thomas, so it’s looking like he’s trying to compete in 2024.

The five-time Masters winner said this back in February 2022: “Like I told you guys last year, I’m not going to play any more than probably the majors and maybe a couple more. That’s it, that’s all my body will allow me to do. My back the way it is, all the surgeries I had on my back, my leg the way it is, I just can’t. That’s just going to be my future.”

There's no reason to believe he won't play this year, but it won't be official until we see him drive down Magnolia Lane.

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When did Tiger Woods win his first Masters?

Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997 at the age of 21. That was 27 years ago, and he is still the youngest player to ever win the Masters.

Has any player ever won back-to-back Masters?

Yes, three players have defended their titles at the Masters: Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-2002).

Who has won the most Masters?

Jack Nicklaus has won the Masters a record six times (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986). Tiger Woods has won it five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019). Arnold Palmer won it four times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964).

What is the scoring record at the Masters?

Dustin Johnson broke the previous scoring record held by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth (18-under 270) when he shot a 20-under 268 total at the November 2020 Masters.

What is the largest margin of victory at the Masters?

Tiger Woods’ victory in 1997 was by 12 strokes, which is the largest margin in Masters history.

What’s the highest winning score of the Masters?

The highest winning score of the Masters is one-over-par 289. Three players have won at one over: Sam Snead (1954), Jack Burke, Jr. (1956) and Zach Johnson (2007).

RELATED: The 13 best "B characters" in Masters history

Has anyone ever won the Masters wire-to-wire?

Yes, five players have won the Masters wire-to-wire: Craig Wood (1941), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Raymond Floyd (1976) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

Has an amateur ever won the Masters?

No, an amateur has never won the Masters.

What’s the closest an amateur has ever come to winning the Masters?

Three amateurs have finished runner-up at the Masters: Frank Stranahan (1947), Ken Venturi (1956) and Charles Coe (1961).

Does the low amateur receive an award?

Yes, each year the lowest amateur to make the cut is awarded the Silver Cup, which was first given in 1952. In 1954, they also began presenting a silver medal to the second-lowest amateur.

What is the amateur scoring record at the Masters?

The amateur scoring record is seven-under-par (281), shot by Charles Coe in 1961.

Who is the youngest player to ever compete in the Masters?

The youngest player to ever play in the Masters is China’s Tianlang Guan, who competed in the event in 2013 at age 14, having qualified by winning the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. He’s also the youngest player to ever make the cut in a major championship.

Will the Augusta National Women's Amateur be played?

Yes, the Augusta National Women's Amateur, started in 2019, will be played once again in 2024 with its final round on Saturday, April 6. This is the fifth iteration of this event. Rose Zhang won last year in a playoff over Jenny Bae. Anna Davis, Tsubasa Kajitani and Jennifer Kupcho won in 2022, 2021 and 2019 respectively. The 2020 event was canceled due to COVID.

Will the Drive, Chip and Putt Competition be played?

Yes, the National Drive, Chip and Putt Final, first held in 2013, is back again. It will be held on Sunday, April 7 and will include 80 boys and girls, ages 7-15 competing in different age groups.

What is Magnolia Lane?

Magnolia Lane is the main driveway leading from Washington Road to Augusta National’s clubhouse. It’s called Magnolia Lane because there are Magnolia trees lined on each side the entire way to the clubhouse.

What is Amen Corner?

Amen Corner is the name for a three-hole stretch of the course beginning with the par-4 11th hole, and including the par-3 12th and par-5 13th. The term was coined by author Herbert Warren Wind when he used it in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article, specifically referring to the approach shot on the 11th, the entire 12th hole and the first two shots on the 13th. This “corner” of the golf course is where some of the tournament’s most historic moments have taken place.

What is Rae’s Creek?

Rae’s Creek is a creek that cuts through the southeast corner of Augusta National, flowing along the back of the 11th green, front of the 12th green and ahead of the 13th tee.

What is the Crow’s Nest?

The Crow’s Nest is a cabin on the property of Augusta National open to any amateur in the Masters field who wants to stay there.

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What is Butler Cabin?

Butler Cabin is a cabin on the property where the winner of the Masters is presented with the green jacket by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, with the previous year’s champion helping the new winner slip on his prize. The field’s low amateur to make the cut is also present during the presentation, with CBS’ Jim Nantz helping with the ceremony.

How many FedEx Cup points does the Masters winner receive?

The winner of the Masters receives 750 FedEx Cup points.

How much do Masters tickets cost?

Augusta National would prefer you call them “badges,” and depending on the day, Masters badges can range from anywhere between $500 and $1,500 on the secondary market. Or, you can take your chances and sign up for the yearly Masters ticket lottery, which can get you much cheaper tickets if you are selected.

How many people attend the Masters?

One of the many pieces of information Augusta National doesn’t make public is the attendance size of the Masters.

MORE: 9 things Augusta National doesn’t want to talk about

Can anyone play Augusta National?

No. Augusta National is a private club only open to members and their guests.