Capelle On Golf

The PGA Tour loves to promote those FedExCup points, but the Cup is way over the horizon and out of sight. The players still have until August 17 to qualify for the playoffs.

The Masters, now that’s a horse (pun intended) of a different color. Only four weeks remain for Masters’ hopefuls to claim a berth in the smallest and by far most select field of the four majors. The qualifying events on the PGA Tour include: Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC – CA Championships, Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and the Shell Houston Open.

While the WGC-CA is being played, lower ranked PGA Tour players can win WGR points at the opposing Puerto Rico Open. Overseas players could also sneak into the field under the radar in Europe and other foreign lands.

For example, last year Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik earned 24 points for winning the Madeira Islands Open BPI. While that didn’t win him a spot at Augusta, some player in ’08 could advance their cause in this little known event that’s being played opposite the opposing event in Puerto Rico!

I wrote the other day about the Win and You’re In rule. And sure enough Sean O’Hair promptly joined seven other PGA Tour pros who have taken this route to Augusta. His win also catapulted him to the 35th spot in the WGR, up from the 76th spot the week before, making him a solid pick to do well in his second Masters.

Two other players not on the official list of entrants for Augusta that are sure to gain admittance are Germany’s Martin Kaymer (WGR 21) and Justin Leonard (WGR 32). There is no way that either could possibly exit the top 50 in four week’s time from that far above the cut line.

Other players well down the rankings could also earn a trip down Magnolia Lane with a win. The other shot at Augusta involves compiling enough WGR points with some leaderboard type finishes.

Here’s a list of aspirants I plucked from the WGR that are playing this week at Bay Hill. These players have time, but they’ve got to make a move – and now!

Two methods open to them: win a tour event or crack the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings. A WGR average of about 2.25 points should be sufficient. I’ve listed some possible scenarios for a few players. These are not exact because I can’t say for sure what the point values will be in the next four events, but these estimates are in the ballpark.

World Golf Rankings –Rank, Average Points
Rod Pampling – 57…2.03…One top 4 should do it
Colin Montgomerie – 61…1.92…A second or two top fives
Pat Perez – 65…1.89…One top 4 or a couple of top 10s
George McNeill – 67…1.89…One top 4 or a couple of top 10s
Ryuji Imada – 68…1.88
Troy Matteson – 76…1.78
Jeff Quinney – 77…1.72
Kenny Perry – 79…1.69
Nathan Green – 80…1.69
Carl Pettersson – 81…1.69
Chad Campbell – 89…1.58
Davis Love III – 92…1.53…Needs a solo second or two top fours
Fredrik Jacobson – 95…1.51
Billy Mafair – 98 …1.48…A win or two top fours

Master Derby Follow Up - Rod Pampling’s Quest
The following comments on Rod Pampling quest for Augusta appeared in theage.com.

“He finished only one shot behind a six-way tie for second in Tampa. That one shot probably cost him a spot in the world’s top 50…”

You can’t believe everything that you read, so I did the math. In truth, his average would have been 2.16 with 2t at the PODs, leaving him in the 54th position in the WGR. Still, every point counts, and a second place tie would have meant that he’d have to accumulate 7.13 fewer points to make Augusta. As I said above, however, a top four between now and the Masters should punch his ticket for Augusta.