Ten Australasians guaranteed starts at Augusta
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2006 US Masters | General | 20 Dec 2005
With three further opportunities for inclusion remaining, ten Australasians are already guaranteed starts at the US Masters in April. It is believed to be the most Australasians to have ever qualified to play the event, surpassing the nine in 2004.
Michael Campbell is an automatic starter, as winner of the US Open and his top fifty world ranking.
Adam Scott will line up as the Players Champion in 2004 and because of his world ranking, currently number eight.
The inclusion of the top sixteen and ties from the 2005 Masters means that Mark Hensby and Rod Pampling get a game although both would have made it through via their world ranking.
Steve Elkington gets to play in his twelfth Masters by virtue of his runner up placing at the USPGA Championship in 2005.
Geoff Ogilvy made it right on the number after finishing 50th in the World Ranking at year’s end although he would have qualified as a result of his finish inside the top forty on the 2005 USPGA Tour money list.
Peter Lonard, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby and Nick O’Hern all make it through via the world ranking although both Lonard and Appleby were also in through the money list.
The remaining avenues for qualification are by being inside the top ten on the 2006 USPGA Tour money list after the Players Championship, the top fifty in the world ranking at that same stage and by special invitation.
Photo – Anthony Powter
