Hovland rockets into contention for Masters spot

The race is on to secure the hottest ticket in town. So far we have 92 players who have stamped their ticket in the Masters 2020 field, with the usual mix of past champions, tour winners, top 50 stars and amateurs but there are still a collection of big names who are yet to make it to the first major of the year.

There are now six spots left for the winners of the Honda Classic, Bay Hill, Players, Valspar, Match Play and Texas, otherwise you will need to be inside the top 50 by the March 30 cut-off.

Viktor Hovland’s win in Puerto Rico might not have guaranteed him a drive down Magnolia Lane but it has given him an incredible opportunity to go back as a pro. The low amateur in 2019 was 102nd before last week but he’s now up to 60th and one big finish away from making it.

Otherwise there are some interesting scenarios ahead. Graeme McDowell, who won in Saudi Arabia and has missed the last three Masters, has got five weeks to stay inside the 50. He’s currently in 49th place.

Likewise Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who won on the Challenge Tour in February, as he is currently sitting one place above McDowell as he looks to book his Masters debut.

Outside looking in from Europe’s Ryder Cup team is Alex Noren who is now down in 101st and Tom Lewis is another who many would like to see at Augusta but he’s been going the wrong way in recent weeks. He’s now 57th.

Everyone was looking forward to Collin Morikawa’s debut but he is yet to secure his spot though his form suggests that he’s going in the right direction and he is just one spot outside the prizes. He did win a PGA Tour event last July but, given that came opposite the Open, that doesn’t count towards the Masters.

As for some of the past major winners Martin Kaymer will have to play his way in as his five-year exemption from the US Open has run out – the German spent Open week at Portrush as first reserve – and Keegan Bradley is 64th as things stand.

The Masters 2020 field: As it stands

Byeong Hun An
Abraham Ancer #
John Augenstein #*
Angel Cabrera
Rafael Cabrera Bello
Patrick Cantlay
Paul Casey
Cameron Champ #
Corey Conners
Fred Couples
Jason Day
Bryson DeChambeau
Tyler Duncan #
Tony Finau
Matthew Fitzpatrick
Tommy Fleetwood
Rickie Fowler
Dylan Frittelli
Abel Gallegos #*
Sergio Garcia
Lucas Glover
Lanto Griffin #
Adam Hadwin
Justin Harding
Tyrrell Hatton
Max Homa #
Billy Horschel
Charles Howell III
Sungjae Im #
hugo Imahira
Trevor Immelman
Jazz Janewattananond #
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnson
Sung Kang#
Si Woo Kim
Kevin Kisner
Brooks Koepka
Jason Kokrak #
Matt Kuchar
Andrew Landry
Bernhard Langer
Nate Lashley #
Marc Leishman
Yuxin Lin *
Shane Lowry
Sandy Lyle
Hideki Matsuyama
Rory McIlroy
Lukas Michel #*
Phil Mickelson
Larry Mize
Francesco Molinari

Sebastian Munoz #
Kevin Na
Joaquin Niemann
Andy Ogletree #*
Jose Maria Olazabal
Louis Oosthuizen
CT Pan #
Victor Perez #
JT Poston #
Ian Poulter
Andrew Putnam #
Jon Rahm
Chez Reavie
Patrick Reed
Justin Rose
Xander Schauffele
Charl Schwartzel
Adam Scott
Webb Simpson
Vijay Singh
Cameron Smith
Brandt Snedeker
Jordan Spieth
Henrik Stenson
James Sugrue #*
Nick Taylor #
Justin Thomas
Brendon Todd
Erik van Rooyen #
Jimmy Walker
Matt Wallace
Bubba Watson
Mike Weir
Lee Westwood
Bernd Wiesberger
Danny Willett
Matthew Wolff #
Gary Woodland
Tiger Woods

Past champions not playing: Tommy Aaron, Jack Burke Jr., Charles Coody, Ben Crenshaw, Nick Faldo, Raymond Floyd, Bob Goalby, Jack Nicklaus, Mark O’Meara, Gary Player, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam, Fuzzy Zoeller

#Masters debut *Amateur

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