Masters May Change Criteria

The Associated Press is reporting that the Masters may change its criteria for qualification:

MIAMI (AP)—Augusta National is expected to change its criteria so that PGA Tour winners—at least some of them—would qualify for the Masters. There were eight tour winners since the previous Masters who are not eligible, and it’s tough to feel sorry for any of them except John Senden of Australia.

Three winners won opposite-field events (D.J. Trahan, Will MacKenzie and Eric Axley). Two winners didn’t have another top-10 over the last year (Jeff Maggert and Mark Wilson). Corey Pavin’s only other top 10 was at Pebble Beach, where he finished nine shots behind. Charley Hoffman had three other top 10s, one of those in the autumn (Las Vegas) and another opposite the Ryder Cup (Texas Open).

But a case could be made for Senden.

He won the John Deere Classic and his national championship, the Australian Open. He also tied for second in Tampa, and was poised to climb into the top 50 and qualify for last week’s CA Championship until he suffered a severe stomach virus that forced him to withdraw from the preceding Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Unable to play the final two tournaments before the cutoff for the Masters, Senden wound up No. 53.

I’m still not going to get in.