96 players invited to 2005 Masters Tournament
IN: News | US PGA | US Masters (2005) | General | 27 Jan 2005
A total of 96 players have been invited to the 2005 Masters Tournament, it was announced by Hootie Johnson, Chairman of the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club. The list includes 54 US and 42 International players. Among the field are four amateurs and 14 first-time participants.
In accordance with qualifications, invitations have also been sent to Honorary Invitees. The Masters Tournament will be contested April 4-10.
"We have outstanding players competing in this year's field," Johnson said. "We are hoping for another exciting Tournament like we had in 2004."
In addition, Johnson announced a special invitation had been given to Shingo Katayama. Katayama finished first on the Japan Golf Tour Money list and captured two events. He competed in the 2004 PGA Championship and played twice in the World Golf Championships. He has participated in the Masters three times (2001-2003).
Several opportunities still remain for players to compete in this year's event. Invitations may also be issued to those not qualified to date who:
* Win The Players Championship in 2005
* Finish among the 10 leaders on the 2005 Official PGA Tour Money List published during the week prior to the Masters
* Finish among the 50 leaders on the 2005 Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the Masters
* The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also may invite additional International players not otherwise qualified
Masters First-Time Participants
Stephen Ames
Winner of the 2004 Western Open by two strokes over Steve Lowery, enjoyed a career best 11 top 10 finishes and made the cut in 21 of 27 events, finished eighth on the PGA Tour Money List, played well in the majors last year finishing T9 in both the US Open and PGA Championship, also three international wins to his credit.
Luke Donald
In 2004, won twice on the PGA European Tour and collected a career-best four top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour, victories came at the Scandinavian event and the Omega European tournament, also earned a 2004 European Ryder Cup berth finishing 2-1-1, lost in a three-way playoff to John Daly at the Buick Invitational, winner of the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
Austin Eaton III
Won the 36th hole against Josh Dennis to win the 2004 US Mid-Amateur Championship at the Seaside Course at the Sea Island Golf Club, previously reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 Mid-Amateur, played collegiate golf at the University of New Hampshire, winner of the New Hampshire Amateur in 2003.
Joakim Haeggman
Winner of the 2004 Qatar tournament on the PGA European Tour, opened with a 75, but played the final 54 holes in 19 under par including a final round 65, two additional European Tour victories to his credit at the 1993 Peugeot Open de Espana and the 1997 Volvo Scandinavian tournament , a member of the 1993 Ryder Cup team becoming the first Swede to play on the squad.
Mark Hensby
Winner of the 2004 John Deere Classic, captured the title on the second playoff hole against John E. Morgan, eight top 10 finishes last year including second at BellSouth and T3 at both Tucson and the Western Open, returned to the PGA Tour after finishing seventh on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2003.
David Howell
Finished third at the WGC-American Express Championship and T3 at the Dubai Desert Classic and Barclays Scottish Open in 2004, seven other top 10 finishes to his credit last year, earned a 1-1 mark for the victorious European squad at the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, finished 10th on the Order of Merit, lone European Tour victory came in Dubai in 1999.
Zach Johnson
Winner of the 2004 BellSouth Classic in his rookie season, made 24 of 30 cuts and picked up his first PGA Tour win in his 13th career tournament, record included five top 10 finishes including T3 at the Buick Championship and the 84 Lumber Classic, finished sixth in total birdies on Tour with 403, 2003 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year making 19 of 20 cuts, including the last 17, and finishing first on the money list.
Luke List
Runner-up at the US Amateur to Ryan Moore falling 2 up at Winged Foot Golf Club, held the lead on 27 of the first 32 holes and was 3 up after the first 18 holes, collegiate golfer at Vanderbilt where he's a sophomore, semifinalist at the 2004 British Amateur and qualified for the 2003 US Open where he missed the cut.
Nick O'Hern
A runner-up twice in 2004 on the European PGA Tour finishing T2 at the Open de France and second alone at the Linde German event, also finished second twice in 2003, nine additional top 10s last year including four straight at one point, finished 12th on the 2004 Order of Merit.
Ryan Palmer
Winner of the 2004 PGA Tour event at Walt Disney World, started the final round five strokes back, but closed with a career-best 62 to win by three, also runner-up at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, rookie last year on Tour after finishing sixth on the 2003 Nationwide Tour money list.
Rod Pampling
Winner of The International in 2004 on the PGA Tour, eagle putt on the 71st hole worth five points in the tournament's modified Stableford scoring system led to the victory, also finished T9 at Bob Hope with weekend rounds of 66, first round leader of the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie, captured the 1999 Canon Challenge in Australia.
Ted Purdy
Two-time runner-up on the PGA Tour in 2004, lost in a five-hole playoff to Stewart Cink at MCI Heritage then was one stroke shy of Jonathan Byrd at the B.C. Open, first round leader at the Texas Open with a course-record-tying 9-under-par 61, earned four top 10 finishes overall, two-time All-America at the University of Arizona, 1997 Rookie of the Year on the Asian PGA Tour.
Bo Van Pelt
Earned five top 10 and 13 top 25 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2004, top 10s included T4 at the Buick Invitational and Booz Allen Classic, T5 at the Bank of America Colonial, T7 at the US Bank Championship and T9 at the Buick Classic, finished the year tied for second on Tour in rounds in the 60s (46) and fifth in total birdies (406), returned to the PGA Tour last year after finishing fifth in 2003 on the Nationwide Tour money list.
Stuart Wilson
Won the 2004 British Amateur Championship at St. Andrews defeating Lee Corfield 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final, became the first Scot since 1936 to win the British Amateur at St. Andrews, member of the victorious 2003 Great Britain & Ireland team that captured the Walker Cup, qualified for the 2001 British Open.
Source - Masters Tournament
