Commissioner Guide

How to Set Up a Masters Pool in 2026

The complete guide for pool commissioners — from configuring tiers and payouts to sharing your invite link and running the whole thing on autopilot during Masters week.

Setup in 6 Steps

1

Create your pool

Sign in and click 'Start a Pool'. Give it a name — your group name, year, whatever fits. Takes 30 seconds.

2

Set entry fee & payouts

Decide the buy-in amount and how you want to split the prize pool. Winner-take-all, top 3, or any custom split. Or run it free with no money at all.

3

Configure scoring

Choose how many tiers to use (default: 9) and how many golfer scores count toward each entry (default: best 4 of 9). Lock in your rules before picks open.

4

Share your invite link

Every pool gets a unique URL. Copy and paste it into your group chat, Slack, or email. Participants click it, make their picks, and they're in.

5

Let the AI do the work

Everyone in your pool gets access to free AI-powered player research — scouting reports, odds, bull & bear cases — so even casual fans can make informed picks.

6

Track it live

Once the Masters starts, your pool leaderboard updates in real time. Watch the standings shift with every hole. No manual score-keeping required.

What You Can Customize

Masters Madness gives commissioners full control over their pool setup. No two pools need to look the same.

Number of tiers

Use the standard 9-tier format or condense to 5 or 6 for smaller groups.

Scoring count

Choose how many of your golfers' scores count — best 4 of 9 is standard, but any combination works.

Entry fee

Set the buy-in amount. Venmo link integration makes collection simple.

Payout structure

Full control over how the prize pool is split — any number of paid places and any percentages.

Multiple entries

Allow participants to submit more than one team if your group likes that format.

Welcome message

Add a custom message that shows up on your pool's rules page — good for side bets or house rules.

Recommended Payout Structures

Small group (5–10 people)

Winner-take-all

Maximum drama, simple accounting. Works best when everyone knows each other.

Medium group (10–25 people)

60% / 25% / 15%

Top 3 places paid out. Keeps the bottom two-thirds of the leaderboard invested all week.

Large group (25+ people)

50% / 25% / 15% / 10%

Top 4 paid. Spreads the risk and rewards more participants in a competitive pool.

Bragging rights only

No entry fee

Free to run. Great for families, casual coworkers, or first-timers testing the format.

Commissioner Tips

1

Send the invite link at least a week before the tournament. Latecomers always want in at the last minute.

2

Share the research page with your group. Players who can look up AI scouting reports make more informed picks and stay more engaged.

3

Settle on your payout structure before sending invites — changing it after people have paid creates friction.

4

For big groups, consider setting a pick deadline 24 hours before the first tee time so you're not chasing stragglers Thursday morning.

5

The pool leaderboard is shareable. Post it in your group chat after each round to keep the trash talk going.

Setup FAQ

How many tiers should my pool have?

9 tiers is the standard — it matches the full Masters field depth and gives each tier a distinct personality. For groups under 8 people, 5 or 6 tiers can work better so the field doesn't feel too thin.

What's a good entry fee?

Most office and friend pools land between $20–$50. The right amount is whatever your group is comfortable with. Masters Madness supports any fee — including zero if you're running a free pool.

Can I change the rules after people have joined?

Commissioners can edit most settings before picks lock. It's best practice to finalize rules before sharing the invite link so participants know exactly what they're signing up for.

When do picks lock?

Picks lock automatically when the Masters Tournament begins — typically Thursday morning of Masters week. No manual lock-in required from the commissioner.

Set Up Your Pool in 5 Minutes

Free to use. Fully customizable. AI-powered player research included for every participant — no setup required.

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