Billy Payne, Chairman of the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club, announced today that three international players have received special invitations to play in the 2008 Masters.
The trio includes Liang Wen-Chong (China), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) and Jeev Milkha Singh (India).
“These three individuals are successful, accomplished and talented golfers deserving of a Masters invitation,” Payne said. “They are outstanding representatives of their respective countries. This is also another component in our objective of growing the game of golf worldwide utilizing the Masters brand. We think the interest in golf in each country will heighten when these players compete in the Masters.”
Liang Wen-Chong: Winner of the 2007 Singapore event in a playoff on the PGA European Tour becoming only the second Chinese golfer to win on that circuit … in 2007 became the first Chinese player to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title … competes on the Asian, European and Japanese tours … became the first Chinese golfer to compete in the PGA Championship accomplishing the feat last year … eligible to play in the 2008 British Open … 2008 leader on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Prayad Marksaeng: Six Asian Tour victories to his credit, including one in 2007 … in 1999 became the first player from his country to qualify for the British Open … voted Asian Golfer of the Year in 1997 … competes on the European, Japan and Asian tours … fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2007.
Jeev Milkha Singh: Played in his first Masters in 2007 finishing T37 … was T10 after the first round at Augusta and T15 after round two … seven top 25 finishes on the PGA European Tour last year … two-time European Tour winner in 2006 … also that year finished first on the Asian Tour Order of Merit … first Indian golfer to qualify for the European Tour … son of a former Olympic sprinter.
To date, 87 golfers have earned an invitation to compete in the 2008 Masters scheduled for April 7-13. Players may still qualify by winning a PGA Tour event that awards a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship prior to this year’s Masters or by finishing among the 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2008 Masters.
2008 MASTERS TOURNAMENT INVITEES
Current Field to Date
1/21/2008
Robert Allenby (Australia)(14,16)
Stephen Ames (Canada)(5,17)
Stuart Appleby (Australia)(10,17)
Woody Austin (13,14,15,16,17)
Aaron Baddeley (Australia)(14,16,17)
# Brian Bateman (15)
Jonathan Byrd (15,16)
Angel Cabrera (Argentina)(2,17)
Mark Calcavecchia (14,16,17)
Michael Campbell (New Zealand)(2)
Paul Casey (England)(10,17)
K. J. Choi (Korea)(14,15,16,17)
# Daniel Chopra (15)
Stewart Cink (14,16,17)
Tim Clark (South Africa)(10,14,16,17)
Fred Couples (1)
Ben Crenshaw (1)
Ben Curtis (3)
Luke Donald (England)(10,14,17)
# Nick Dougherty (England)(11,17)
Ernie Els (South Africa)(12,13,14,16,17)
Niclas Fasth (Sweden)(11,17)
Steve Flesch (14)
Raymond Floyd (1)
Jim Furyk (2,10,11,14,15,16,17)
Sergio Garcia (Spain)(12,14,16,17)
Retief Goosen (South Africa)(2,10,17)
# Richard Green (Australia)(12,17)
Todd Hamilton (3)
# Anders Hansen (Denmark)(17)
# Soren Hansen (Denmark)(17)
Padraig Harrington (Ireland)(3,10,14,16,17)
Charles Howell III (14,16,17)
Trevor Immelman (South Africa)(17)
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)(17)
Zach Johnson (1,14,15,16,17)
Robert Karlsson (Sweden)(17)
Shingo Katayama (Japan)(17)
Jerry Kelly (10,11)
* Trip Kuehne (9)
Bernhard Langer (Germany)(1)
# Liang Wen-Chong (China)
Sandy Lyle (Scotland)(1)
Hunter Mahan (14,15,16,17)
# Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand)
Shaun Micheel (4)
Phil Mickelson (1,4,5,14,15,16,17)
Larry Mize (1)
Arron Oberholser (13,17)
Geoff Ogilvy (Australia)(2,14,16,17)
Nick O’Hern (Australia)(17)
Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain)(1)
Mark O’Meara (1)
Gary Player (South Africa)(1)
Ian Poulter (England)(10,17)
John Rollins (14,16)
# Andres Romero (Argentina)(12,17)
Justin Rose (England)(10,14,16,17)
Rory Sabbatini (South Africa)(10,14,15,16,17)
Adam Scott (Australia)(14,16,17)
# John Senden (Australia)(13)
Jeev Milkha Singh (India)
Vijay Singh (Fiji)(1,4,10,14,16,17)
# Heath Slocum (14,16)
Brandt Snedeker (14,15,16,17)
Craig Stadler (1)
Henrik Stenson (Sweden)(17)
# Richard Sterne (South Africa)(17)
Steve Stricker (14,15,16,17)
Toru Taniguchi (Japan)(17)
Vaughn Taylor (10)
#* Michael Thompson (6-B)
David Toms (10,11,17)
D. J. Trahan (15)
Scott Verplank (11,14,15,16,17)
Camilo Villegas (Colombia)(16)
# Nick Watney (15)
# Bubba Watson (11)
Tom Watson (1)
#* Drew Weaver (7)
# Boo Weekley (14,15,16,17)
Mike Weir (Canada)(1,17)
Lee Westwood (England)(17)
Brett Wetterich (14,16,17)
Tiger Woods (1,3,4,10,11,14,15,16,17)
Ian Woosnam (Wales)(1)
Fuzzy Zoeller (1)
Past champions not playing: Tommy Aaron, Severiano Ballesteros, Jack Burke Jr., Billy Casper, Charles Coody, Nick Faldo, Doug Ford, Bob Goalby, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer
Number after each name indicates the basis of qualification. The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites International players not otherwise qualified.
1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (2006 and 2007)
6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
8. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion
9. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion
10. The first 16 players, including ties, in the 2007 Masters Tournament
11. The first 8 players, including ties, in the 2007 US Open Championship
12. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 British Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 PGA Championship
14. The 30 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for 2007
15. Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
16. Those qualifying for the season-ending 2007 Tour Championship
17. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for 2007
18. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2008 Masters Tournament
# Denotes first Masters * Denotes Amateur
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