How to qualify for the Masters, the world's most prestigious golf tournament

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The Masters is the most prestigious golf tournament in the world and most golfers yearn for an invitation.

As it turns out, there are 19 different ways in which a golfer can come to receive an invitation. Many players actually qualify under multiple criteria, including Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, and Jason Day, who all qualify under seven of the 19 different categories.

The qualifications are also always changing. For example, the USGA no longer holds the US public links championship where the winner used to receive an invite to the Masters. On the flip side, the Latin American amateur champ is a recent addition, and the reigning Olympic gold medalist is now an automatic qualifier.

Below we take a look at the 19 different ways a golfer can qualify for the Masters and which of this year's 94 golfers qualified under each. The golfers are only listed under their first qualification.

1. Winners of a previous Masters receive a lifetime invitation. There are 18 players in this year's tournament who have already won at least one green jacket

• Adam Scott
• Angel Cabrera
• Bernhard Langer
• Bubba Watson
• Charl Schwartzel
• Danny Willett
• Fred Couples
• Ian Woosnam
• Jordan Spieth
• Jose Maria Olazabal
• Larry Mize
• Mark O'Meara
• Mike Weir
• Phil Mickelson
• Sandy Lyle
• Trevor Immelman
• Vijay Singh
• Zach Johnson

Because of the qualifications, the Masters' field does not have a set size. This is important because it means older players with lifetime invitations are not taking spots from somebody who may have a better chance to compete.

Notable past champions who are still eligible to play but are not in the field include Tiger Woods (who is injured), Ben Crenshaw, Fuzzy Zoeller, Nick Faldo, Craig Stadler, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson.