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Four earn Masters invitations

Thai Prayad Marksaeng has booked his place in next month’s U.S. Masters by climbing into the world’s top 50, the European Tour said on Monday.

Prayad, who earned an exemption last year but had to pull out because of a back injury, will be joined at Augusta by Australian Mathew Goggin and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen who have also made the top 50 cut-off for the year’s first major.

The Thai has played in six European Tour events this season, with his best finish a tie for second place behind American winner Anthony Kang at last month’s Malaysian Open.

Prayad left it late to seal a place at Augusta, carding a closing 64 at the Black Mountain Masters in his home country on Sunday to claim the second spot he required.

Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, winner of this year’s Qatar Masters, was also confirmed for the U.S. Masters having reached 25th in the rankings.

The final invitation for the Augusta tournament, which begins on Apr. 9, will go to the winner of this week’s PGA Tour event in Houston.

March 30, 2009