Reigning NCAA Division I men’s champion Gordon Sargent and Kazuki Higa of Japan accepted invitations to compete in the Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club announced Thursday.

Both players will be first-time participants in the Masters, which will be held on April 6-9.

“The Masters Tournament prioritizes opportunities to elevate both amateur and professional golf around the world,” said Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “Thus, we have extended invitations to two deserving players not otherwise qualified. Whether on the international stage or at the elite amateur level, each player has showcased their talent in the past year. We look forward to hosting them at Augusta National in April.”

Kazuki Higa of Japan and Gordon Sargent of the United States have accepted invitations to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament. Both players will be first-time Tournament participants.

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Sargent, 19, is a sophomore at Vanderbilt. He became the first freshman since 2007 to win the NCAA Division I men’s championship after he birdied the first hole of a four-way playoff in May.

Sargent is the first amateur to accept a special invitation to the Masters since Aaron Baddeley in 2000.

Higa, 27, has recorded four of her six career wins on the Japan Golf Tour in 2022. He currently resides at No. 68 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

–Field Level Media