One of the great perks of winning The Masters is the lifetime exemption given to the champion.
That means that, even if a former champion has otherwise left his playing days behind, he still has the option of teeing it up at the Major if he chooses.
While there is no age limit on when a player should decide enough is enough at The Masters, two-time winner Bernhard Langer revealed in 2020 that Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley had told him “we will all know when the time is right to stop playing,” so there is perhaps an expectation that a player should use his judgement over when the best time to call it a day is.
As a result, there are plenty of former winners of the tournament who won’t be teeing it up at the 2024 edition, but it’s not just age that is a factor, with visa issues, injuries and other commitments among the factors that can persuade a former champion not to play.
In total, 17 players who have previously worn the Green Jacket have decided against teeing it up this year…
Tommy Aaron
Tommy Aaron made 31 more Masters appearances after winning in 1973
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Tommy Aaron recorded four top-10 finishes at the Major before getting over the line in 1973 with a one-shot win over JC Snead.
The American, who is now 87, didn’t reach the top 10 at the tournament again, but he did take advantage of his lifetime exemption, making another 31 appearances before calling it a day in 2005.
Angel Cabrera
Angel Cabrera’s reported struggle to obtain a visa means he’s not in the field
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The 2009 Green Jacket winner was not included in the 2024 Masters field after being released from prison following a 30-month sentence he served for domestic assault and other charges relating to former partners.
However, it wasn’t because he’s no longer welcome to compete. Cabrera, who was released on parole last August after serving prison time in Argentina and Brazil, has reportedly been unable to obtain a visa.
Charles Coody
Charles Coody won in 1971, but last played in the 2006 tournament
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Coody won the 1971 tournament in his sixth Augusta National appearance with a two-shot win over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller, but a T5 in 1976 was the closest he came to another title.
He was still a regular at the…
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