Swede’s Carl Pettersson and Henrik Stenson will be experiencing the magic of Augusta National for the first time from April 6-9 when they line up alongside 28 other European Tour Members who have been invited to the 2006 Masters Tournament.
Pettersson finished his 2005 campaign on the US PGA Tour in considerable style with a win and a runners-up finish in his last two starts. The Swede secured a one stroke victory in the Chrysler Championship in Tampa on the US PGA Tour to add to his 2002 Algrave Open de Portugal victory on The European Tour. He then finished tied second in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
Stenson, twice a winner on The European Tour, finished eighth on the 2005 European Tour Order of Merit after an impressive season that yielded three runners-up finishes and four third place finishes. Included among them were some of the biggest events of the season, such as his tied third finish in the WGC – American Express Championship behind Tiger Woods and John Daly.
Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, who in 2005 became the first European golfer to win the US Amateur Championship since 1911, will also be making his Masters debut.
European Tour Player of the Year Michael Campbell will be looking to add the Masters title to his US Open Championship victory while Colin Montgomerie, the winner of the 2005 Order of Merit, returns to the Masters to make his 14th appearance in the season’s first Major Championship.
The field also includes six European Tour Masters Champions in Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Vijay Singh and Ian Woosnam.
Tiger Woods will be defending the title after winning his third Green Jacket last year after a thrilling duel with fellow American Chris DiMarco.
Hootie Johnson, Chairman of the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club announced a total of 99 players have been invited to the 2006 Masters Tournament. The list includes 57 US and 42 international players. Among the field are five amateurs and 14 first-time participants.
Several opportunities still remain for players to compete in this year's event. Invitations may also be issued to those not qualified to date who:
- Win The Players Championship in 2006.
- Finish among the 10 leaders on the 2006 Official PGA Tour Money List published during the week prior to the Masters.
- Finish among the 50 leaders on the 2006 Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the Masters.
- The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also may invite additional international players not otherwise qualified.
Current Field:-
Tommy Aaron (1)
Robert Allenby (Australia)(16)
Stuart Appleby (Australia)(14,16)
Severiano Ballesteros (Spain)(1)
Rich Beem (4)
Thomas Björn (Denmark)(13,16)
# Jason Bohn (14)
Gay Brewer Jr. (1)
Olin Browne (14)
# Bart Bryant (14,16)
Jack Burke Jr. (1)
Angel Cabrera (Argentina)(16)
Mark Calcavecchia (14)
Chad Campbell (14,16)
Michael Campbell (New Zealand)(2,16)
Billy Casper (1)
K. J. Choi (Korea)(14,16)
Stewart Cink (16)
Tim Clark (South Africa)(11,14,16)
Darren Clarke (N. Ireland)(16)
Charles Coody (1)
Fred Couples (1,12,14,16)
# Ben Crane (14,16)
Ben Crenshaw (1)
Ben Curtis (3)
John Daly (16)
Chris DiMarco (10,14,16)
Luke Donald (England)(10,14,16)
#* Dillon Dougherty (6-B)
David Duval (3)
Steve Elkington (Australia)(13)
Ernie Els (South Africa)(3,16)
Nick Faldo (England)(1)
Raymond Floyd (1)
Doug Ford (1)
Fred Funk (5,14,16)
Jim Furyk (2,14,16)
Sergio Garcia (Spain)(11,14,16)
# Lucas Glover (14)
Bob Goalby (1)
Retief Goosen (South Africa)(2,10,14,16)
Todd Hamilton (3)
Padraig Harrington (Ireland)(14,16)
Mark Hensby (Australia)(10,11,16)
Tim Herron (10,14,16)
Charles Howell III (14)
David Howell (England)(10,16)
Trevor Immelman (South Africa)(10)
Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain)(16)
Brandt Jobe (14,16)
Zach Johnson (14)
Shingo Katayama (Japan)(16)
Bernhard Langer (Germany)(1)
Tom Lehman (10,16)
Justin Leonard (10,14,16)
Thomas Levet (France)(10)
Peter Lonard (Australia)(14,16)
Davis Love III (11,13,14,16)
Sandy Lyle (Scotland)(1)
#* Kevin Marsh (9)
Shigeki Maruyama (Japan)(14,16)
Billy Mayfair (14)
#* Brian McElhinney (Ireland)(7)
Paul McGinley (Ireland)(16)
Rocco Mediate (11)
Shaun Micheel (4)
Phil Mickelson (1,4,10,14,16)
Larry Mize (1)
#* Edoardo Molinari (Italy)(6-A)
Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)(12,16)
Ryan Moore (10)
Byron Nelson (1)
Jack Nicklaus (1)
#* Clay Ogden (8)
Joe Ogilvie (14)
# Geoff Ogilvy (Australia)(14,16)
# Sean O'Hair (14,16)
Nick O'Hern (Australia)(16)
José Maria Olazábal (Spain)(1,12,16)
Mark O'Meara (1)
Arnold Palmer (1)
Rod Pampling (Australia)(10,16)
Kenny Perry (14,16)
# Carl Pettersson (Sweden)(14)
Gary Player (South Africa)(1)
Ted Purdy (14)
Adam Scott (Australia)(5,14,16)
Vijay Singh (Fiji)(1,4,10,11,14,16)
Craig Stadler (1)
# Henrik Stenson (Sweden)(16)
# Vaughn Taylor (14)
David Toms (4,14,16)
Scott Verplank (14,16)
Tom Watson (1)
Mike Weir (Canada)(1,10,16)
Lee Westwood (England)(16)
Tiger Woods (1,2,3,11,13,14,16)
Ian Woosnam (Wales)(1)
Fuzzy Zoeller (1)
Number after each name indicates the basis of qualification. The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international players not otherwise qualified.
- 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 (3 years)
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 for 2005
10. The first 16 players, including ties, in the 2005 Masters Tournament
11. The first 8 players, including ties, in the 2005 US Open Championship
12. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2005 British Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2005 PGA Championship
14. The 40 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for 2005
15. The 10 leaders on the Official PGA Tour Money List published during the week prior to the 2006 Masters Tournament.
16. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for 2005.
17. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2006 Masters Tournament
