How to get tickets to the Masters Tournament

Masters tickets — or also known as badges around the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club — are some of the most sought after tickets by golf fans and sports aficionados each year. They also happen to be some of the most exclusive and expensive tickets to get your hands on.

However, as anyone who has been on the grounds to experience Masters golf for themselves can attest to, it's definitely worth the effort to get your hands on some tickets.

Here's a look at three ways you can get Masters tickets for 2020:

1. Win the lottery

No, this isn't saying you'll only get tickets if you win the Mega Millions.

Each year, the Masters Tournament offers a ticket lottery which determines who is able to buy tickets for the next tournament. It's a super easy process and the excitement of winning matches what we assume putting on the green jacket in Butler Cabin is like.

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Shortly after the Masters, an email will go out announcing that the lottery application for the next year is now open. Once you apply, you sit back and wait for the drawing and the email that will reveal your ticket fate. Typically, the drawing occurs in July.

If you win the random selection lottery to purchase tickets, it will be a very nominal fee, especially compared to other major sports events.

In 2018, practice round tickets cost $75 and you were able to request up to four tickets. Daily tickets for the tournament rounds cost $115 and you could request up to two tickets.

Here's some of the fine print from the Masters Tournament:

• Only one application per person or address will be accepted
• Do not apply for tickets on behalf of a friend or relative, as a gift, or to sell.
• All applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
• Applicants may apply for any and all days, however, are eligible to win only one day.

You can apply for Masters tickets here

2. Get a patron badge

What if we said there was a way you could pay only $325 and get access to the grounds at Augusta for each day of the tournament. Considering the week-long badges can go for five-figure amounts on the secondary ticket market, that's an incredible deal.

Unfortunately, these badges are pretty impossible to get now.

Augusta National has a limited number of badges out there in the world and once you have one, you can keep it for the rest of your life. If someone who does have one dies, it can only be transferred to their surviving spouse. It cannot be transferred to any other family member or an estate. If there is no surviving spouse, the badge goes back into the pool and the next person on the waiting list gets their chance.

The last time the waiting list was opened up for new names was in 2000, so don't hold your breath getting Masters access this way.

3. Secondary market

This is the most expensive way to get through the gates. The "least expensive" way to go is to get a practice round ticket for Monday or Tuesday. Depending on the year, these can become available for less than $1,000. Wednesday is the most expensive day of the practice rounds to go to since your badge also grants you access to the Par 3 Contest in the afternoon.

If you're looking to get a ticket to the tournament rounds, be prepared to spend over $1,000 to claim your seat on Amen Corner or see the winning putt on Sunday.

Ticket packages are also available from travel services. If you go this route, make sure that you do your homework and only work with a reputable company.

One other route is to hang out in the parking lot during Masters week to see if you can score a badge from someone leaving the grounds. Each ticket is limited to two re-entries per round, so you might be able to have some luck if you find a generous patron leaving for the day that will hand their pass off to you.