Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the MastersTournament, announced today that 104 players have been invited to the 2012Masters scheduled for April 2-8. Of those invited, 92 are expected to compete,including six amateurs and 14 first-time participants.
"We are delighted to welcome this impressive collection of players toAugusta National Golf Club in 2012," Payne said. "We are equally enthusiasticto showcase our golf course and the world's best competitors for the enjoymentof golf fans around the globe."
Two opportunities still remain to qualify for an invitation to the 2012Masters:
Win a PGA Tour event that awards a full-point allocation for theseason-ending Tour Championship prior to the 2012 Tournament.
Finish in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking published during theweek prior to the Masters.
The official Web site of the Masters Tournament, www.masters.com, will beupdated weekly with any additions to the list of 2012 invitees.
The 2011 Masters had a starting field of 99 players. At the Tournament'sconclusion, South African Charl Schwartzel secured his first Green Jacket bymaking birdie on the final four holes to win by two over Jason Day and AdamScott.
The 2012 Tournament will mark the 76th playing of the Masters. For moreinformation, contact Steve Ethun by phone at 706-667-6705 or via e-mail atspethun@augustanational.com.
January 3, 2012
2012 MASTERS TOURNAMENT INVITEES Aaron Baddeley (Australia)(15,17,18) #Sang-moon Bae (Korea)(18) Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)(13,18) # Keegan Bradley(4,15,16,17,18) Jonathan Byrd (15,17) Angel Cabrera (Argentina)(1,2,11) #*Patrick Cantlay (6-B) Paul Casey (England)(18) # Kevin Chappell (12) K. J. Choi(Korea)(5,11,15,17,18) Stewart Cink (3) Tim Clark (South Africa)(5) DarrenClarke (N. Ireland)(3,18) Fred Couples (1,11) Ben Crenshaw (1) Jason Day(Australia)(11,12,15,17,18) Luke Donald (England)(11,15,17,18) Jason Dufner(14,15,17,18) Simon Dyson (England)(18) # Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain)(18)Ross Fisher (England)(11) Rickie Fowler (18) # Harrison Frazar (16) Jim Furyk(18) Sergio Garcia (Spain)(12,18) # Robert Garrigus (12) Lucas Glover (2,16)Bill Haas (15,16,17,18) Anders Hansen (Denmark)(14,18) Peter Hanson(Sweden)(12,18) Padraig Harrington (Ireland)(3,4) Charles Howell III (15,17)Trevor Immelman (South Africa)(1,11) Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden)(15,16,17,18)Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)(18) Dustin Johnson (13,15,16,17,18) Zach Johnson(1,18) Robert Karlsson (Sweden)(14,18) Martin Kaymer (Germany)(4,18) Kyung-TaeKim (Korea)(18) #* Kelly Kraft (6-A) Matt Kuchar (15,17,18) Martin Laird(Scotland)(15,18) Bernhard Langer (Germany)(1) #* Randal Lewis (10) Sandy Lyle(Scotland)(1) # Denotes first Masters #* Bryden Macpherson (Australia)(7)Hunter Mahan (15,17,18) * Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)(8) Graeme McDowell (N.Ireland)(2,18) Rory McIlroy (N. Ireland)(2,11,18) Phil Mickelson(1,13,15,17,18) #* Corbin Mills (9) Larry Mize (1) Edoardo Molinari (Italy)(11)Francesco Molinari (Italy)(18) Kevin Na (15) Geoff Ogilvy (Australia)(11,17,18)Sean O'Hair (16) Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain)(1) Mark O'Meara (1) LouisOosthuizen (S. Africa)(3,18) Ryan Palmer (11) Ian Poulter (England)(18) AlvaroQuiros (Spain)(18) Chez Reavie (17) Justin Rose (England)(11,15,16,17,18) RorySabbatini (South Africa)(15) Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)(1,15,18) AdamScott (Australia)(11,15,16,17,18) John Senden (Australia)(17,18) # Webb Simpson(15,16,17,18) Vijay Singh (Fiji)(1,15,17) Brandt Snedeker (11,15,16,17,18)Craig Stadler (1) # Scott Stallings (16) # Brendan Steele (16) Henrik Stenson(Sweden)(5) Steve Stricker (11,15,16,17,18) David Toms (14,15,16,17,18) Bo VanPelt (11,15,17,18) Scott Verplank (14) Nick Watney (15,16,17,18) Bubba Watson(15,16,17,18) Tom Watson (1) Mike Weir (Canada)(1) Lee Westwood(England)(11,12,18) Mark Wilson (15,17) Gary Woodland (15,17) Tiger Woods(1,2,4,11,18) Ian Woosnam (Wales)(1) Y. E. Yang (Korea)(4,12,17,18) * DenotesAmateur Invitees as of January 3, 2012 Past champions not expected toparticipate: Tommy Aaron, Jack Burke Jr., Billy Casper, Charles Coody, NickFaldo, Raymond Floyd, Doug Ford, Bob Goalby, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, GaryPlayer, Fuzzy Zoeller Number after each name indicates the basis ofqualification. The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invitesinternational players not otherwise qualified.
2012 MASTERS QUALIFICATIONS 1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime) 2. USOpen Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years) 3. British OpenChampions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years) 4. PGA Champions (Honorary,non-competing after 5 years) 5. Winners of The Players Championship (Threeyears) 6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion 7. CurrentBritish Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) 8. CurrentAsian Amateur Champion 9. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion 10. CurrentUS Mid-Amateur Champion 11. The first 16 players, including ties, in theprevious year's Masters Tournament 12. The first 8 players, including ties, inthe previous year's US Open Championship 13. The first 4 players, includingties, in the previous year's British Open Championship 14. The first 4 players,including ties, in the previous year's PGA Championship 15. The 30 leaders onthe Final Official PGA Tour Money List for the previous calendar year 16.Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for theseason-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters 17.Those qualifying for the previous year's season-ending Tour Championship 18.The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for the previouscalendar year 19. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking publishedduring the week prior to the current Masters Tournament
The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international playersnot otherwise qualified.
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