Austin Smotherman Eyes Masters Berth After Back-to-Back PGA Tour Victories

Austin Smotherman is setting his sights on qualifying for the Masters after securing consecutive victories on the PGA Tour. His triumph at the Bank of Utah Championship in early October marked his first career PGA Tour win, a lifelong aspiration fulfilled. Just 22 days later, he clinched another title at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. These career-defining wins have shifted his focus toward new goals, chief among them breaking into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

With his recent success, Smotherman has earned a place in the PGA Tour's Championship Series set to debut in 2028 and secured exemptions into the 2027 PGA Championship and U.S. Open. He has also accumulated over $1.1 million in earnings and ascended to No. 54 in the OWGR. Moving into the top 50 by the end of 2026 is now a clear priority.

"No doubt, no doubt," Smotherman stated when asked about cracking the top 50. "Everything for next year is already pretty firm as far as where things are going to be, but I still have majors that need to be put on the schedule. That’s the one thing that’s really shifted."

Players ranked within the Top 50 of the year-end world rankings earn an invitation to the following year's Masters. Smotherman's sole major championship appearance to date was a missed cut at the 2026 PGA Championship. He chose to compete in Bermuda despite having secured exemptions, aiming to improve his ranking.

"That’s why we wanted to go play Bermuda," Smotherman explained. "My wife and I talked about it, and she’s got things handled at home. We’re in a good routine, and I didn’t go to Japan, so I got that extra week off. That’s what we were playing for. I’m going to play Austin and the RSM Classic to try to move inside the top 50."

He acknowledged that while not being in the top 50 by year's end wouldn't be the absolute end of the road, as other qualification paths exist, securing that position would provide welcome certainty before a planned break. "If we’re 51st, we’re 51st. It’s not necessarily the end of the cutoff, because there are still other ways to get in and a little bit of time left, but having that certainty before taking time off would be nice."

Smotherman's victory at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship concluded under unusual circumstances due to extreme winds that led to the cancellation of the final round. The event was shortened to 54 holes, and Smotherman, tied for the lead with Seamus Power, faced Power in a sudden-death playoff on the 16th hole on Monday morning. Smotherman secured the win with his third consecutive par.

Following his wins, Smotherman plans to spend time with his family in Dallas before his next scheduled event, the Austin Championship, which begins on November 12.