Augusta National Lengthens 17th Hole, Changes Masters Qualification for 2026 Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club stretched the 17th hole by 10 yards for the 2026 Masters Tournament. The par-4 now measures 450 yards instead of 440. Club officials revealed this Tuesday in their annual media guide.

Workers pushed the front tee box back 12 yards. The tee marker sits in a different spot now. Total course yardage climbs to 7,565 yards across the par-72 design.

Nandina, that's what they call this hole, ranked as the fourth hardest test last year. Players averaged 4.230 strokes there in 2025. Rory McIlroy sank a birdie at 17 to grab a one-shot lead going into 18, but then he bogeyed and had to face Justin Rose in a playoff.

McIlroy won. He got his first Green Jacket and finished the career Grand Slam. He'll try to keep his title when the 90th Masters starts April 9.

Last summer, the club tweaked how players get invited. Champions from six international opens now receive automatic spots. Winners of the Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japanese Open, Hong Kong Open, Australia Open, and South Africa Open will qualify.

Several golfers earned their way in through these new rules. Mateo Pulcini, who's 25, won the Latin America Amateur Championship and grabbed his invitation. Ryan Gerard, 26, qualified after tying for second at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

Former winners will be back, including Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, and Scottie Scheffler. First-timers include Alex Noren, Aaron Rai, Kristoffer Reitan, Max Greyserman, Michael Brennan, Michael Kim, Sami Valimaki, Rasmus Hojgaard, Min Woo Lee, Si Woo Kim, Johnny Keefer, and Sam Stevens.

Competition runs April 9 through April 12 at the Georgia course.