Former Masters champions paid $375,000 for not playing at Augusta | Golf | Sport
Legendary golfer Ben Crenshaw did not participate in the Masters but was paid handsomely (Image: Getty)
Winning the Masters delivers far more than simply a green jacket and a permanent place in golfing history. It grants a lifetime invitation to return to Augusta National each April, and, as it happens, a $25,000 honorarium merely for attending — even without striking a single competitive shot.
Fifteen former Masters champions were present at this year’s tournament without competing, and collectively they received $375,000 from Augusta National’s $22.5 million prize fund — the identical per-person sum awarded to players who made the cut before finishing in last place.
The honoraria represent one of Augusta National’s more discreet traditions, a subtle recognition of the lifelong brotherhood that a green jacket bestows. This follows McIlroy navigating a ‘dirty’ ESPN incident involving his ex-girlfriend at the Masters.
Amongst those in attendance without taking part this year were Ben Crenshaw, Nick Faldo, Trevor Immelman, Bernhard Langer and Mark O’Meara — five legends who collectively hold nine Masters titles and whose combined careers encompass half a century of major championship excellence.
Crenshaw, now 73 and a native of Austin, Texas, claimed the Masters on two occasions: in 1984 and once more in 1995 during one of the tournament’s most deeply moving triumphs, occurring mere days following the passing of his cherished mentor Harvey Penick.
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He also represented the United States in four Ryder Cups and led the team to one of the competition’s most remarkable fightbacks in history during the 1999 contest at Brookline. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 and subsequently became one of the most highly regarded course designers in the sport alongside Bill Coore.
Faldo’s major record has long stood as the benchmark for European golf, or at least it did until this week. The Englishman claimed six majors between 1987 and 1996, amongst them three Masters titles, two of which came back-to-back in 1989 and 1990.
His most iconic Augusta moment arrived in 1996 when he overhauled Greg Norman during one of the sport’s most legendary final-round collapses.
He spent 97 weeks as world No. 1 and holds the European record for most Ryder Cup appearances with 11. With Rory McIlroy’s sixth major title secured on Sunday, Faldo now shares second place on the European major winners list with the Northern Irishman.
Immelman, the South African who claimed the 2008 Masters with a wire-to-wire victory that kept Tiger Woods at bay, has since forged a distinguished career in broadcasting and served as International Team captain for the Presidents Cup.
Sir Nick Faldo reacts on the second hole during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2025 Masters (Image: Getty Images)
Langer, 68, made 41 appearances at Augusta before stepping back from the Masters in 2025, triumphing twice, in 1985 and 1993, and establishing himself as one of the game’s ultimate symbols of longevity and dedication, with more than 90 victories worldwide, including sustained dominance on the Champions Tour well into his sixties.
O’Meara, who claimed both the Masters and The Open Championship in 1998 at age 41 in one of the sport’s most remarkable late-career campaigns, is also amongst the group and continues to be recognised as a close friend and early mentor to Tiger Woods.
The $25,000 each man collected is modest compared to the overall purse, which saw Rory McIlroy secure $4.5 million for his second straight title and Scottie Scheffler bank $2.43 million as runner-up. Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose, and Cameron Young each collected $1.08 million for their share of third place.
It follows after an angry PGA Tour star lashed out over the ‘unfair advantage’ McIlroy had at the Masters.
