Here is how you can get Masters badges or practice round tickets. I have included 8 trusted sources for authentic tickets. There are also updated policies regarding reentering the grounds with your ticket. We will start with info from the official site of The Masters.

Tickets for the 2011 Masters are sold out.

Practice Round tickets are limited and sold in advance by application only. Applicants are allocated tickets on a random selection basis. 2012 Practice Rounds applications will be mailed in June, after the 2011 Tournament. Those people who applied in 2010 and/or 2011 will automatically receive an application for 2012 tickets. The deadline for 2012 applications is July 15, 2011. Successful applicants will be notified in September. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified.

If you are not on the Practice Rounds mailing list and would like to be added for 2012, please send your name, address, daytime telephone number, email address and last four digits of your social security number no later than May 31, 2011, to:

Masters Tournament
Practice Rounds
PO Box 2047
Augusta, GA 30903-2047

Tournament or "Series" Badges (Thursday through Sunday) have been sold to those on our patron list which was closed due to demand in 1972. A waiting list began in 1972, and was closed in 1978. It reopened in 2000, and it too is now closed. No applications for "Series" Badges are currently being accepted.

Junior Pass Program

The Masters is excited to again implement our successful Junior Pass Program. This program enables an accredited Patron, the opportunity to personally bring a junior (age 8-16) to each of the four Tournament days to experience the 2010 Masters.

• An accredited Patron is the INDIVIDUAL whose name appears on the series badge application. Company patrons are not eligible for this program.
• A "Junior" is any child age 8-16 years, no relation to the accredited Patron is necessary.
• An accredited Patron may bring only one junior guest per day for each of the four Tournament days, Thursday through Sunday. This opportunity is available only to the accredited Patron. No other bearer of a series badge other than the accredited Patron will have this privilege.
• Upon entry, the Junior must be registered at the designated ticket gates by the accredited Patron; Patron identification (driver's license) will be required.
• A complimentary pass will be issued to the Junior. The Pass is not transferable, and re-entry to the grounds will not be allowed if the Junior leaves the grounds.
• THE ACCREDITED PATRON MUST ACCOMPANY THE JUNIOR AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNIOR AT ALL TIMES WHILE ON THE GROUNDS.
• This program will not be available on Practice Round days.

-Masters.com

The good news is tickets are available through fans unable to go, ticket brokers or scalpers. Most likely, you will have to pay far more than the face value. You can buy from fans and brokers online through ebay and other fan to fan services, however, I would exercise extreme caution because of counterfeit or fraud. WRDW-TV - News 12 - Augusta,GA reports one incident of fake tickets. The Gainesville Sun reports an arrest of someone selling fake Masters tickets on Craigslist.

Although, you may pay a few dollars more, I would recommend purchasing from a licensed ticket broker. Here are a few trusted sources:

TicketNetwork - Tickets for Augusta National Masters
TicketLiquidator - Find Masters Golf Tickets Augusta National
PurchaseTix - Purchase Masters Tournament Tickets
Alliance Tickets - Buy Masters Tickets Augusta National
Vegas Tickets - Augusta National Masters Badges and Tickets
VividSeats - Masters Golf Tournament Tickets
TicketFeeder - Tickets for The Masters in Augusta
AceTicket - Masters Tickets
TicketsNow - TicketsNow Homepage Golf Tickets

You can also try your luck buying in person on the streets in Augusta. Over my nine consecutive years at the Masters in Augusta, I have personally seen scalpers arrested. Yes, ticket scalping is legal in Augusta, however they must maintain 1500 yards from the gates starting in 2001 by the Georgia Legislature. Undercover officers and volunteers pose as potential ticket buyers to help rid of illegal activity. The Augusta Chronical reports arrests here. Augusta.com reports a similar story. I have been barraged by scalpers wanting to by my ticket inside the gate trying to exit and outside the main entrance. It gets annoying.

You are able to re-enter the gate, only if you scan your ticket upon exit. Otherwise your ticket will become void. So, if you are buying a ticket off the streets more than 1500 feet, you risk buying a voided ticket. It is safer to buy from one of the many brokers who are there everyday for hours. They pay well over $1000 to the land owner to set-up and sell. Be wary of a roamer who is trying to make a quick buck and is not paying to set-up and does not have required Richmond County Business License. Yes, it is required for the week of vending.

You must display your ticket at all times so employees of The Masters or Augusta National Golf Club can see that you have proper credentials. The week long badge holder is rigid plastic with pin clip so you can secure it to your clothing. The daily tickets are thin cardboard with a string that you can wrap around a belt loop or button on your shirt. I lost my one year when crossing the street to go into the gate. It either fell off or someone snagged it. I would highly recommend buying a badge holder lanyard. It will protect your ticket from rain, wind, and theft. You can buy one from me off ebay! I have been selling this for years and include two 4x6 glossy photo postcards of Augusta Holes 12 and 13 which slide in the badge holder. Obviously, the comfortable cotton string is Kelly green!

Good luck in getting your tickets and enjoy the Masters in Augusta this year!