Els and Goosen: Dude, who do you gotta %^*# these days for a Masters invite???
Three-time major champion Ernie Els and two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen are two of the notables that have yet to qualify for the Masters.
After the final official week of tournaments around the world, the bulk of the 2012 field has been set, while obviously there are still a number of ways to earn the elusive invite. One of the ways for a ticket to Augusta is to finish in the top 50 in the world rankings at the year end.
Jim Furyk sneaked in to snag a spot as No. 50 in the world. He began the year ranked No. 5, but struggled for most of the season until rallying in the fall to regain some of his form.
Other players getting into the Masters by way of the world ranking were Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Alvaro Quiros, K.T. Kim, Simon Dyson, Sang-moon Bae, Rickie Fowler, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, according to the AP.
Now, of course, Els and Goosen still have two ways to land an invite to the year’s first major — either by winning a PGA Tour event before the Masters (except the tourneys held opposite the WGCs), or by making their way into the top 50 in the world rankings published the week before the Masters.
Others still looking to qualify include Ryo Ishikawa (No. 51), Ben Crane (No. 54), Ryan Moore (No. 57), Matteo Manassero (No. 58…whom we’ll probably see play several times in America to get in the top 50 like he did last year) and Robert Allenby (No. 59). Notables whose rankings have fallen further are Anthony Kim (No. 75) and Camilo Villegas (No. 89).
The Masters boasts the smallest field of the four majors and the green coats prefer to keep it at less than 100 players. So far, at least 91 guys have earned invitations, though a number of past champions who are past their prime won’t play. In 2011 the final field included 99 players. Last time it exceeded more than 100 was in 1966 when there were 103.
It is such a pity the Shark couldn’t overcome the fade to the right under immense stress. He would have played his beloved Masters until he dropped.
Now Ernie has the same problem.
Kind of illustrates how weak the International team at the Prex Cup was.
Els, Goosen, Ishikawa, Allenby on the outside looking in for the Masters. That’s 1/3 of the team.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ben Crane didn’t get in with his tour win?
Ben “The Human Rain Dealy” Crane doesn’t deserve a spot in the Masters. I’d rather watch paint dry that watch him play golf. Just ask Rory…
Yes it would be a surprise to not see these two players at Augusta. They haven’t been the same players that they once were in the last few years.
The past Masters champions who are not playing should be allowed to pass their tickets to a current player who has either won more than 10 events or at least 2 majors. If that is done then the tour player would auction off the par 3 tournament caddie for the tour player to the highest bidder for charity. This would be a win for charity and a win for the Masters field and would not put “extra” players in the field. Of course the Masters directors would never allow that.——————Par