With just a week to go for the Masters Tournament, the lineup is almost ready. There are still a few prominent names that are on the verge of qualifying for the event. Sitting away from the top 50 in the OWGR and having no PGA Tour wins might be the reason. But, last-minute qualifiers still have a chance. Last year, Akshay Bhatia secured his Masters entry with a win against Denny McCarthy at the Valero Texas Open.

So, now all hopes are on this event. It’s the final attempt for a few to get their names on the Masters players’ roster. But, who are the golfers at risk of losing their participation? Well, there are many, but below are the top 5 names that could make it through based on their performance at the Valero Texas Open.

Golfer at risk of missing Masters 2025

1. Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler, once the world no. 4, is now struggling to get into the top 50 positions in global ranking. The 6-time PGA Tour event winner has featured in the Masters for the past decade. Notably, he also has three runner-up finishes at majors. Despite that, his ongoing form has been a worry for him. The golfer is currently placed 110th on the OWGR. At the Houston Open, he was 105th, but with his T52 finish, he has dropped further.

Now, hopeful for his 11th Masters, the golfer has only one option – a victory. But factually, his performance has been a struggle in 2025. The best finish he could achieve until now is T18 at the Cognizant Classic. It will be interesting to see if he can clinch a victory or not.

2. Gary Woodland

The winner of the PGA Tour Courage Award and the 2019 US Open is too on this list. The golfer’s 5-year exemption ends in 2024, and with his current ranking, he will not feature at the Masters. Despite having a T2 finish at the Houston Open, the golfer could only get to the 94th position in OWGR. He was earlier placed at 186, but with the 26 points he earned, being runner-up helped with the boost.

Even with a solo second finish, he could not join the top 50 spots. So, for him too, the Valero Texas Open victory is the only thread weaving him into the Masters this year.

3. Ben Griffin

The 28-year-old Ben Griffin has been a professional since 2018, but he left golf and worked as a loan officer in 2021. Then, his passion for the game brought him back to the course, and in 2023, he earned his PGA Tour card. But he has never played the Masters. This year, he is close to it, but everything depends on his performance at the Valero Texas Open.

The American professional is currently ranked 51st in the OWGR. With just a little push, he can be eligible for the big league. The golfer just has to make the cut to be on the Masters players’ roster. Even though he was T18 at the Houston Open, his two consecutive missed cuts at The Players and Valspar will still be the worry that he doesn’t wish to repeat.

4. Eric Cole

Cole, who earned his PGA Tour card in 2022, has already impressed the golf community with his performance in the minor league. Even at the Masters last year, he was placed in T52. But for the 2025 edition, he is still far away from joining the roster. The golfer who has achieved two top-20 finishes recently has long-jumped from the 68th to 60th position. However, he still needs to climb 10 more positions with his performance. His total OWGR points are 94.2, while to get into the top 50, he would need a 10-point boost.

5. Jake Knapp

Last up on the list is Jake Knapp, who recently got technical support from his girlfriend. Amid the bad weather conditions, Makena White shared how she was checking the technical side of the weather for accurate predictions of the golf tournament. But despite the support, the worry for Masters contention continues for him. Knapp, who got the PGA Tour card in 2024, also featured at the Masters. Interestingly, he was placed in T55.

However, for 2025, he is still far behind in the OWGR (82) after his T27 finish at the Houston Open. Now, with the only hope being a win or a top 3 finish at the Valero Texas Open, he could be set for the second consecutive year.

With top names, struggling to get through the Masters roster, a good performance at the Valero Texas Open is a must. But who will be the one to do it? What are your thoughts on it? Let us know in the comments below.