Cordial Invitations Await

There are still two events between now and the first men’s major of the year at the Masters, and a handful of players can earn invitations this week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

The winner will of course punch his ticket, as can the top 50 players in the world at week’s end who aren’t already in the field. A few notable names are both in the field and on the outside looking in, so here are a few players to keep an eye on this weekend at Memorial Park.

Michael Kim

Few players are having a better season than Kim so far in 2025. The 31-year-old has risen from No. 156 in the world at the start of the year to No. 52 entering this week. In 10 PGA Tour starts this season, Kim has five top 25s, three top 10s, and a runner-up at the WM Phoenix Open. Coming up a place or two short would be brutal for Kim, who shot an even-par 70 on Thursday to walk off the course T-57 on the leaderboard.

Ben Griffin

One spot behind Kim at No. 53 is Griffin, who needs at least a solo 28th finish to move into the top 50 and qualify for his first Masters. Griffin is T-57 alongside Kim after the first round.

Eric Cole

Cole is looking to play his way into his second Masters after finishing 52nd in his debut last year. Currently 61st in the world, Cole will need a big jump (or win) to play his way in. So far so good in Space City, where he sits T-5 at 4 under.

Si Woo Kim

A solid all-around player with little to show for it at majors, Kim needs to finish solo third or better if he has any chance to make it to Augusta. He’s played the last eight editions of the Masters with a best finish of T-12 in 2021. A 3-over 73 on Thursday has the world No. 66 well outside the projected cut line, so he’ll need some magic on Friday and over the weekend.

Mackenzie Hughes

No. 67 in the world, Hughes missed the Masters for the first time since 2020 last year and will be win-or-bust these next two weeks to get in. At 1-under 69 through the opening 18 holes, he’s in position to make a weekend move with a solid round on Friday.

Jacob Bridgeman

The Clemson alum ended 2024 ranked 189th in the world, but a solid stretch of golf during the Florida Swing has him all the way up to 70th. Unfortunately for Bridgeman, the transition to Texas has left him at 2 over in Houston with little more than a prayer to earn his invite via the top 50.

Rickie Fowler

Speaking of a lot of ground to cover, let’s talk about Fowler. The fan-favorite has tumbled from 74th to 105th this season with a best finish of T-18 at the Cognizant Classic. He missed the Masters from 2021-2023 before a T-30 in his return last year. It’s been 11 years since he finished top five in all four majors, and over that stretch he’s finished in the top 10 just seven times in the biggest events. Fowler shot a 1-under 69 on Thursday and is certainly out of play for the top 50 unless he wins, which would earn him an automatic invite.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.