How do entry fee payments work?

When participants join your pool, they pay their entry fee securely through our payment system. The money is held safely until the tournament ends, then automatically distributed to winners based on your payout structure (default: 70% / 20% / 10% for 1st / 2nd / 3rd place).

Yes. All payments are processed through bank-level secure payment infrastructure. Entry fees are held in escrow until the tournament concludes, then distributed automatically. We never touch your funds directly.

Can I really use it for free?

Yes! The Free tier supports up to 5 participants with basic pool features. Perfect for small friend groups. No credit card required to start. You only pay if you need automated payments, live scoring, and automatic payouts for larger pools (6+ players).

What tournaments can I use this for?

RunPools works for all major golf tournaments including The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. We're also expanding to support football, basketball, and other sports leagues.

How is this different from other golf pool platforms?

Most platforms only provide scoring tools - you still have to collect entry fees and pay winners manually via Venmo. RunPools automates the entire process: entry fee collection, live scoring, and instant winner payouts. Save 8+ hours per tournament.

What happens if a golfer misses the cut?

Golfers who miss the cut receive a standard penalty score (typically 10 over par for the remaining rounds). This ensures fair scoring while keeping all participants in contention throughout the tournament.

Do you support tiered and salary cap formats?

Yes! RunPools supports all popular formats including tiered (pick one golfer from each tier), salary cap (build your lineup within a budget), and snake draft formats. Choose the format that works best for your group.

How do payouts work for ties?

If multiple participants tie for a winning position, the prize money for those positions is combined and split evenly. For example, if two participants tie for 1st place, they split the 1st and 2nd place prizes (70% + 20% = 90% divided by 2 = 45% each).

Can I run pools for all four majors?

Absolutely! Our Enterprise plan ($199) includes all four major championships: The Masters (April), PGA Championship (May), U.S. Open (June), and The Open Championship (July). Pro plan covers individual tournaments at $49 each.

How long does it take to set up a pool?

Creating your pool takes about 90 seconds. Name your pool, set the entry fee, choose your format (tiered, salary cap, or draft), and generate your invite link. Participants can join and make picks immediately.

Masters 2026 Field Predictions: Full List + Tier Rankings

Masters 2026 Field Status

As of March 28, 2026, approximately 85-90 spots in the Masters field are locked in through automatic qualifications. The final field will be determined by April 7, one week before tournament week begins.

The Masters uses the most exclusive qualification criteria in golf, with only the top players in the world earning invitations. Unlike other majors that accept 150+ players, Augusta National typically hosts just 90-95 competitors.

Automatic Qualifications (Confirmed)

✅ Masters Champions: Lifetime invitation (17 former champions)
✅ US Open Champion 2025: 5-year exemption
✅ Open Championship 2025: 5-year exemption
✅ PGA Championship 2025: 5-year exemption
✅ Players Championship 2025 & 2026: 3-year exemption
✅ Top 50 OWGR: As of April 7, 2026 rankings
✅ Top 12 PGA Tour Points: 2025 season (through BMW Championship)
✅ PGA Tour Playoff Champions: FedEx Cup winner gets automatic spot

Tier 1: Betting Favorites (Top 10)

These players are priced under +1500 by sportsbooks and represent the most likely winners based on recent form, Augusta history, and world rankings.

Player	Odds	OWGR	2025 Masters Finish
Scottie Scheffler	+450	1	T-3
Rory McIlroy	+900	3	T-7
Jon Rahm	+1000	4	Winner (2023)
Viktor Hovland	+1200	6	T-12
Xander Schauffele	+1200	5	T-3
Collin Morikawa	+1400	7	T-5
Ludvig Åberg	+1400	2	Runner-up (2025)
Brooks Koepka	+1400	10	T-8
Patrick Cantlay	+1600	8	T-7
Max Homa	+1800	12	T-12

Tier 2: Strong Contenders (11-30)

Players in this tier offer value betting opportunities at odds between +1800 and +5000. Many have top-10 finishes at Augusta and represent solid pool picks.

Cameron Smith (+2200)

2022 Masters Runner-up

Jordan Spieth (+2500)

2015 Masters Champion

Hideki Matsuyama (+2800)

2021 Masters Champion

Tommy Fleetwood (+3000)

Multiple top-10s at Augusta

Will Zalatoris (+3500)

T-2 finish in 2023

Tony Finau (+4000)

Consistent top-20 performer

Dustin Johnson (+4500)

2020 Masters Champion

Justin Thomas (+4500)

Former world #1

Dark Horses & Sleepers

Looking for longshot value in your Masters pool? These players at +5000 or higher have the game to compete at Augusta but are undervalued by oddsmakers.

Sepp Straka (+8000): Elite ball-striker who could excel on Augusta's demanding approach shots. Winner of 2025 Valspar Championship.
Sam Burns (+6500): Multiple PGA Tour wins in 2024-25, excellent around-the-green game suits Augusta.
Min Woo Lee (+10000): Australian bomber with length off the tee. Finished T-7 in his Masters debut (2024).
Tom Kim (+7500): Young star with major championship experience. Elite short game could shine on Augusta greens.

Past Champions Returning

The Masters extends lifetime invitations to all former champions. Here are the 17 past winners expected to compete in 2026:

Recent Champions (2020-2025)

• Jon Rahm (2023)
• Scottie Scheffler (2022)
• Hideki Matsuyama (2021)
• Dustin Johnson (2020)

Champions (2010-2019)

• Tiger Woods (2019)
• Patrick Reed (2018)
• Sergio García (2017)
• Danny Willett (2016)
• Jordan Spieth (2015)
• Bubba Watson (2012, 2014)

International Representation

The Masters 2026 field is expected to include 30-35 international players from over 20 countries. Key international favorites include:

🇪🇸 Spain: Jon Rahm, Sergio García
🇬🇧 England: Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton
🇳🇮 Northern Ireland: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry
🇳🇴 Norway: Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
🇦🇺 Australia: Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott
🇿🇦 South Africa: Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen
🇯🇵 Japan: Hideki Matsuyama
🇰🇷 South Korea: Tom Kim, Si Woo Kim

For Your Masters Pool or Betting Card

Planning a Masters pool or betting strategy for April 10-13? Use these tier rankings for draft position:

Recommended Pool Strategy

✅ Tier 1 picks (Scottie, Rory, Jon): Safe but less upside. Only 10-15% of pool entries will fade these.
✅ Tier 2 value (Matsuyama, Spieth, Smith): Best risk/reward. Past winners at 25/1+ odds.
✅ Dark horse flyer (Straka, Burns, Tom Kim): Differentiate your lineup. 1% of pools will have these.
✅ Nassau/Skins side bets: Use our free calculators to track betting games during the tournament.

Track Your Masters Bets with Free Calculators

Running Nassau or Skins betting games during the Masters? Calculate payouts instantly with our free tools.

When Will the Field Be Finalized?

The official Masters 2026 field will be announced April 7, exactly one week before the first round. Final spots are determined by:

✅ Top 50 in Official World Golf Ranking (as of April 7)
✅ Winners of PGA Tour events through Valero Texas Open (April 6)
✅ Special exemptions from Augusta National (rare, typically 0-2 per year)

Bookmark this page — we'll update with the complete official field on April 7, including tee times and pairings.

Historical Context: Recent Masters Fields

Year	Field Size	Champion	Winning Score
2025	92	Scottie Scheffler	-16
2024	89	Ludvig Åberg	-12
2023	91	Jon Rahm	-12
2022	94	Scottie Scheffler	-10

Trend: Field sizes have decreased slightly (94 in 2022 → 89-92 in 2024-25) as Augusta National prioritizes quality over quantity. Expect 90-93 players in 2026.

FAQ: Masters 2026 Field

How many players make the Masters field?

The Masters typically hosts 90-95 players, making it the smallest field of the four major championships. The exact number varies based on how many players meet qualification criteria.

Will Tiger Woods play in the 2026 Masters?

As a five-time Masters champion, Tiger Woods has a lifetime exemption. His participation depends on his physical health and competitive readiness. He traditionally announces his decision the week before the tournament.

Can amateurs qualify for the Masters?

Yes. The reigning U.S. Amateur Champion, British Amateur Champion, Latin America Amateur Champion, Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion, and U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion all receive invitations.

What is the Masters cut line?

After 36 holes (Friday), the top 50 players (including ties) plus anyone within 10 strokes of the lead advance to the weekend. Typically, this is around +5 to +8.

Who is the betting favorite for Masters 2026?

As of March 28, Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite at +450 odds, followed by Rory McIlroy (+900) and Jon Rahm (+1000). Odds will shift significantly as the tournament approaches.