Hope springs eternal.
The Masters ticket lottery window has officially opened and it’s time for everyone to throw their scrap of paper into the virtual hat to see if they will be fortunate enough to win passes for the 2027 tournament.
Augusta National doesn’t reveal how many “patrons” attend the tournament but the avenues for getting inside the gates are limited. There are only a few paths, which I outlined here.
The main path? Winning the lottery.
How do you do that? A lot of luck, to be sure.
But if you really want to go to the Masters, there is a way to stack the deck in your favor.
How does the Masters ticket lottery work?
Assuming you don’t know someone who has a badge or an extra ticket, your only shot at reasonably priced tickets (~$125-$160 depending on the day) will be through the lottery system.
The Masters allows the general public to apply for tickets, awarding an undisclosed number of passes.
Here is how it works.
The application window begins June 1 and closes June 20. You can apply at any point during these three weeks. It doesn’t matter when you apply.
In your application—only one per house address is permitted—you will be able to apply for any and all days (Monday-Sunday). The number of days or number of tickets you apply for does not impact your chances of winning. If you apply for multiple days and win, you will only be awarded one of the days. However, you will win the number of tickets you applied for.
You can choose up to four tickets during the practice round days (Monday-Wednesday) and up to two tickets for the tournament days (Thursday-Sunday).
If you won (or did not win) tickets, you will be notified around mid to late July. At that point, winners will be able to pay for them through the Masters web site.
You can apply for Masters tickets at this link.
The tickets arrive in a beautiful green envelope—although it’s not until around the third week of March.
How to stack the deck in your favor
When you walk through the gates of Augusta National to enter the Masters, it’s a truly surreal experience.
It’s also a minimalist one. You can’t take your phone and you only really need your wallet, car keys, a camera (if attending a practice round day) and maybe a chair if you want to bring one.
One thing you don’t need to get in? Your ID.
If you have a Masters ticket, nobody asks you to prove you were a lottery winner. You just have a ticket like everyone else entering.
I mention this because it brings up an obvious strategy for getting into the Masters: have everyone and your dog apply for tickets.
Now, as mentioned, only one application can be sent per residential address. You can’t be sending in five applications per household.
But your in-laws who have no interest in golf? That crazy aunt who lives in the mountains? Your half-sibling you haven’t spoken to in 20 years?
Anyone can apply and anyone can win.
You could gather a small army of family and friends to apply, either on your behalf or with the promise that you will all be going if the lottery route is successful.
Make sure all of those people know what the arrangement is if they win. Maybe you pay an extra $50 per ticket to the person who won them for you or you agree to get them some Masters merch as a thank-you. Whatever the case, just make sure you are on the same page.
What if I still don’t win tickets?
The odds are not in your favor to win Masters tickets. Is there another way to go?
Yes, of course. How much money do you have?
Masters tickets will be available through secondary markets like StubHub. The price is significant, however. I waited in line with a guy who paid $1,800 for a Tuesday ticket which is pretty standard. Prices vary but it’s likely going to be in that range. Prices seem to be heading north.
Given that the whole trip is so costly to begin with—flights, hotels, rental cars, merchandise, food, etc.—spending that much money per ticket is not feasible for most people.
If you use a secondary market, I would also be cognizant of shipping details/timing and whether the ticket is real. It’s worth it to choose a more secure option.
There is the option of going to Augusta without a ticket and hoping prices drop—or you could find a scalper on Washington Road. While day-of prices can drop, it’s not a strategy I recommend. It’s tough to plan around that and you should really get a full day to experience everything.
If you desperately want to see the course and aren’t overly concerned with it being Masters week, you can also apply for tickets to see the Augusta National Women’s Amateur the weekend prior.
The dates for that application are the same as for the Masters.
That’s about it. Best of luck to you! May the Masters gnomes (which are apparently being discontinued) be with you.
If you have any specific questions about tickets, you can send me an email at sean.fairholm@mygolfspy.com.
Top Photo Caption: Masters patrons enter the grounds of Augusta National. (GETTY IMAGES/Patrick Smith)
The post How To Stack The Masters Ticket Lottery In Your Favor appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
Article Link: https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/how-to-stack-the-masters-ticket-lottery-in-your-favor/