Augusta National Invites 104 Players to 2012 Masters


Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, has announced that 104 players have been invited to the 2012 Masters 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 to Augusta National Golf Club in 2012," Payne said. "We are equally enthusiastic to showcase our golf course and the world's best competitors for the enjoyment of golf fans around the globe."

Two opportunities still remain to qualify for an invitation to the 2012 Masters:

• Win a PGA Tour event that awards a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship prior to the 2012 Tournament.

• Finish in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the Masters.

The official website of the Masters Tournament, www.masters.com, will be updated weekly with any additions to the list of 2012 invitees.

The 2011 Masters had a starting field of 99 players. At the Tournament's conclusion, South African Charl Schwartzel secured his first green jacket with birdies on the final four holes to win by two strokes over Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott.

The 2012 Tournament will mark the 76th playing of the Masters.

2012 Masters 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)
Darren Clarke (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-Tae Kim (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)
* 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)
Louis Oosthuizen (S. Africa) (3,18)
Ryan Palmer (11)
Ian Poulter (England) (18)
Alvaro Quiros (Spain) (18)
Chez Reavie (17)
Justin Rose (England) (11,15,16,17,18)
Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) (15)
Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) (1,15,18)
Adam Scott (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 Van Pelt (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)

* Denotes Amateur

Past champions not expected to participate: Tommy Aaron, Jack Burke Jr., Billy Casper, Charles Coody, Nick Faldo, Raymond Floyd, Doug Ford, Bob Goalby, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Fuzzy Zoeller.

Number after each name indicates the basis of qualification. The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international players not otherwise qualified.

2012 Masters Qualifications

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime).
2. U.S. Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing five years).
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years).
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years).
5. Winners of the Players Championship (three years).
6. Current U.S. Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current U.S. Amateur Champion.
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year).
8. Current Asian Amateur Champion.
9. Current U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion.
10. Current U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion.
11. The first 16 players, including ties, in the previous year's Masters Tournament.
12. The first eight players, including ties, in the previous year's U.S. Open Championship.
13. The first four players, including ties, in the previous year's British Open Championship.
14. The first four players, including ties, in the previous year's PGA Championship.
15. The 30 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for the previous calendar year.
16. Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-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 previous calendar year.
19. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament.