The Masters Tournament is famous for its pimento cheese sandwich and green jackets, but perhaps the most sought-after collectible is an over-foot-tall statue. The Augusta National gnome is a collectible that disappears faster than a Sunday lead at Amen Corner.

These statues have a new design each year, and they are only available at Augusta National during Masters week. Merchandise lines for the gnome are the first stop for thousands of patrons.

The high-demand gnomes typically sell out within the first 15 minutes after the shop opens each day. This is true even for credentialed media members, who are not allowed access to the shop until after the daily allotment is exhausted.

"It's hard to get the gnome if you are going as media… they sell out within the first 15 minutes," said Tom Coyne while interviewing Gene Wojciechowski. He explained that because of the timing of media access, you really have to know somebody to get a gnome.

To secure a gnome, patrons must enter the gates at 7:00 AM and go directly to the Main Golf Shop. With a maximum of one per customer, the daily allotment usually sells out moments after opening.

The newest edition features a new twist: a patron gnome with a coffee cup and a working Masters umbrella. This edition joins the 2025 gnome holding a peach ice cream sandwich and the 2024 “player” gnome in a blue sweater.

If you are late to the morning rush, your only option is the secondary market, where prices are extremely high. They are originally about $49.50 at Augusta National, but 2026 presales on eBay are already around $750, nearly 15 times the original price.

The Secret Strategy of the 7 AM Sprint

The gnome's appeal is tied to Augusta National not selling merchandise online. Owning a gnome is proof that someone was present inside the gates that year.

This level of scarcity mirrors other sought-after sports collectibles, such as player-specific shoes or championship programs. The gnome is no longer just decor. It has become a marker of access.

Each year’s design is retired after the tournament, which adds pressure for buyers to act quickly. Once it sells out, it does not return at retail price.

With larger crowds and rising resale prices, the early-morning rush for the gnome is starting to feel unsustainable.

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav