Players make Masterful move

With the close of play in 2008 around the world this past weekend, 15 players who were not previously qualified earned an invitation to the Masters Tournament by finishing in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Richard Sterne, who was ranked No. 113 two weeks ago, made the most impressive move. He won the Alfred Dunhill Championship and South African Open in consecutive weeks to move up 70 spots to No. 43. He won the South African Open on Dec. 21 in a playoff.
The other 14 players not otherwise eligible except for their top-50 ranking were Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher, Luke Donald, Shingo Kayatama, Graeme McDowell, Rory Sabbatini, Jeev Milkha Singh, Aaron Baddeley, Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen, Soren Kjeldsen, Rory McIlroy  and Lin Wen-Tang of Taiwan. They increase the Masters field to 88 players. Among those still not eligible are Woody Austin and J.B. Holmes, the only Ryder Cup player who could miss the first major of the year. Players still can qualify by winning one of 13 PGA Tour events leading to the Masters, or by getting into the top 50 in the rankings published a week before the Masters. The Masters has not had more than 100 competitors since 1966 but could approach or surpass that number in 2009.