Should Ernie Els Get a Masters Invitation?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by WWBDD

What would he have to do this weekend to qualify ... outright win?

I think I heard solo third or higher, depending on what Matteo does.

[mvmac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

I think I heard solo third or higher, depending on what Matteo does.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/jason-sobel/els-saturday-bay-hill-2012/

Quote:

If he finishes in sole possession of second place, he’s in as one of the top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of this week. Such a result would be good enough to move him from his current position of 62 ^nd to as high as 43 ^rd – safely within the Augusta zone.

If he ties for second place, he’s probably in. Depends on how many others share that position, really. If it’s just one, he’s good; if it’s 10, he’s out.

If he finishes in sole possession of third place, well, that’s when things get really hairy. To get ultra technical, Els would earn 22.4 points for that result, which would be enough to put him squarely into the 50 ^th position. But if, let’s say, Ryo Ishikawa – currently in a share of 50 ^th place on the leaderboard and already with a special exemption into the Masters field -- finishes in solo 25 ^th place, he would pass Els and push him back to 51 ^st .

The OWGR numbers in that scenario: Ishikawa 2.667, Els 2.666.

[BallStriker]

I think that big easy absolutely deserves an invite, especially with his current form...and i think he gets one too...i think we all understand why Ryo get his exemption (it is not money btw), but the media won't let it pass quietly if ernie doesn't qualify and gets passed over for an exemption.....the boys can look out for their interests just fine, but do need to allow ernie to play so the big questions aren't asked.....

[zipazoid]

I voted no, he doesn't deserve an invitation.

People mentioned his current form should merit an invite. Well, then he should win an event which would get him in. He could have done that - and should have - last week in Tampa. Now he's 3 shots back going into the final round at Bay Hill. Just finish the job & we don't even have this discussion. If he can't, then no - he doesn't play The Masters. And he won't be the first to not get an invite just because he's playing well leading up to the event.

Yes, it's hard to get into the The Masters. That's because it's The Masters. It's supposed to be hard. If they start opening it up to guys in form leading up to the event, that's a slippery slope. Cuz right behind Ernie there's others that could merit such an invite under the same logic.

If you want to make the case that Ernie's a 3-time major winner & thus should get the invite, none of those wins have been in the last 10-plus years. He won the 1994 US Open - when Tiger Woods was still an amateur.

No, I like the rigid criteria for getting into the The Masters. It's not the John Deere Classic.

[WWBDD]

Thanks for the answers guys.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

I voted no, he doesn't deserve an invitation.

People mentioned his current form should merit an invite. Well, then he should win an event which would get him in. He could have done that - and should have - last week in Tampa. Now he's 3 shots back going into the final round at Bay Hill. Just finish the job & we don't even have this discussion. If he can't, then no - he doesn't play The Masters. And he won't be the first to not get an invite just because he's playing well leading up to the event.

Yes, it's hard to get into the The Masters. That's because it's The Masters. It's supposed to be hard. If they start opening it up to guys in form leading up to the event, that's a slippery slope. Cuz right behind Ernie there's others that could merit such an invite under the same logic.

If you want to make the case that Ernie's a 3-time major winner & thus should get the invite, none of those wins have been in the last 10-plus years. He won the 1994 US Open - when Tiger Woods was still an amateur.

No, I like the rigid criteria for getting into the The Masters. It's not the John Deere Classic.

1.  But which of those "others" are HoF inductees, have sixtysomething career wins (including a 2-win season two years ago), AND 3 Majors?  (BTW the Major wins are important, because per the Masters qualifying criteria, Major champions are lifetime invitees, though non-playing after 5 years.)  Which of those "others" have a handful of top-5 finishes at the Masters?

2.  If he misses the mark by 2 OWGR spots after today, which seems like a probable result, no one is going to care who was #53 or #54 in the world and didn't get in.  There might be a legit argument for "What about #51?"  In response to that, I refer you to point 1.

It's not just that he's had a great career.  It's not just that he's right on the bubble in OWGR.  It's both.  His current playing form means that he's got a legitimate chance of winning the tournament.  His career accomplishments warrant a "special" invite, even if just this once.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by k-troop

1.  But which of those "others" are HoF inductees, have sixtysomething career wins (including a 2-win season two years ago), AND 3 Majors?  (BTW the Major wins are important, because per the Masters qualifying criteria, Major champions are lifetime invitees, though non-playing after 5 years.)  Which of those "others" have a handful of top-5 finishes at the Masters?

2.  If he misses the mark by 2 OWGR spots after today, which seems like a probable result, no one is going to care who was #53 or #54 in the world and didn't get in.  There might be a legit argument for "What about #51?"  In response to that, I refer you to point 1.

It's not just that he's had a great career.  It's not just that he's right on the bubble in OWGR.  It's both.  His current playing form means that he's got a legitimate chance of winning the tournament.  His career accomplishments warrant a "special" invite, even if just this once.

He's had a great career, no doubt.  And if he could putt he'd be in cuz he would have won last week in Tampa & we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

I don't think he has a chance at The Masters because of that. The greens at Innisbrook are one thing. The greens at Augusta are something else entirely. I don't want him to get a special invite so we can watch him four-putt. If he wants in he better win Bay Hill today or next week.

[mtsalmela80]

Well according to Arnie, the greens here are rolling at 13+, which is pretty much where Augusta is at. So if he can manage to putt well here...

[zipazoid]

They just interviewed him. He is not sounding like a guy very confident in his abilities. Lots of deep sighs & shrugs.

[The_Pharaoh]

At the end of the day, Ernie has a career 99% of pros that have ever played on the PGA Tour would gladly swap in a heart beat, yet Larry Mize gets to play every year for the rest of his life because he hit the flukiest chip in the history of golf. The selection process for The Masters is a joke and not a very funny one at that.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

He's had a great career, no doubt.  And if he could putt he'd be in cuz he would have won last week in Tampa & we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

I don't think he has a chance at The Masters because of that. The greens at Innisbrook are one thing. The greens at Augusta are something else entirely. I don't want him to get a special invite so we can watch him four-putt. If he wants in he better win Bay Hill today or next week.

Yeah, I'm going to have to disagree that he can't compete at the Masters.  He finished one shot out of the playoff last week.  He's T3 this week going into the final round.  This is the PGA Tour, BTW--he's not finishing second in his club championship.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

At the end of the day, Ernie has a career 99% of pros that have ever played on the PGA Tour would gladly swap in a heart beat, yet Larry Mize gets to play every year for the rest of his life because he hit the flukiest chip in the history of golf. The selection process for The Masters is a joke and not a very funny one at that.

Oh come on. It's not like Larry Mize only made the chip. He had to get into the playoff in the first place.

If he doesn't earn his way in, then that's all you can say: he didn't earn his way in.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by iacas

Oh come on. It's not like Larry Mize only made the chip. He had to get into the playoff in the first place.

If he doesn't earn his way in, then that's all you can say: he didn't earn his way in.

You know the point I'm making about Mize.

I agree, Els hasn't earned the right to play based on the current system and that is why I dislike it.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

At the end of the day, Ernie has a career 99% of pros that have ever played on the PGA Tour would gladly swap in a heart beat, yet Larry Mize gets to play every year for the rest of his life because he hit the flukiest chip in the history of golf. The selection process for The Masters is a joke and not a very funny one at that.

As does Doug Ford, Tommy Aaron, Fuzzy Zoeller, George Archer & Craig Stadler. You win & you have a lifetime exemption. So why pick on Mize?

That doesn't make 'selection process' a joke though. It just makes it what they wish it to be. They honor their past.

But they also honor the present with the rest of the ways to get in. Bottom line is, Ernie hasn't gotten the job done. If he doesn't qualify he doesn't deserve to be there.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

As does Doug Ford, Tommy Aaron, Fuzzy Zoeller, George Archer & Craig Stadler. You win & you have a lifetime exemption. So why pick on Mize?

That doesn't make 'selection process' a joke though. It just makes it what they wish it to be. They honor their past.

But they also honor the present with the rest of the ways to get in. Bottom line is, Ernie hasn't gotten the job done. If he doesn't qualify he doesn't deserve to be there.

I could have picked any of those guys, Mize was the first one to come to mind. I have no problem with the organisers honouring the past, but not a lifetime exemption for winning. Make it 5, hell even 10 years. That I can understand. A major championship deserves to have 150 or so top pros competing in it with at least an outside chance of winning it.

Ford, Aaron, Fuzzy et al can be paraded at the Champs Dinner, play the Par 3 contest etc., but there is nothing particularly honouring about shooting 90-90 and going home Friday night.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

I could have picked any of those guys, Mize was the first one to come to mind. I have no problem with the organisers honouring the past, but not a lifetime exemption for winning. Make it 5, hell even 10 years. That I can understand. A major championship deserves to have 150 or so top pros competing in it with at least an outside chance of winning it.

Ford, Aaron, Fuzzy et al can be paraded at the Champs Dinner, play the Par 3 contest etc., but there is nothing particularly honouring about shooting 90-90 and going home Friday night.

That's called the U.S. Open. This is The Masters. They have their own criteria.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

I could have picked any of those guys, Mize was the first one to come to mind. I have no problem with the organisers honouring the past, but not a lifetime exemption for winning.

What's it matter? They're not taking a spot away from someone. It's not like "because Larry is going to play, Ernie can't." The field is the smallest of the majors. The past champions playing (and many don't, so let's be accurate about this all too) don't affect the amount of players that play.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

That's called the U.S. Open. This is The Masters. They have their own criteria.

I know, I don't like The Masters' criteria.

Originally Posted by iacas

What's it matter? They're not taking a spot away from someone. It's not like "because Larry is going to play, Ernie can't." The field is the smallest of the majors. The past champions playing (and many don't, so let's be accurate about this all too) don't affect the amount of players that play.

I never said I didn't like Mize playing because he is taking a spot that Ernie could have. I am against Mize playing because he has no chance of winning. As it is a major, I'd rather see a strong field 1 thru 150, rather than 1 thru 50, then 51 thru 100 being a collection of special invites from Asia, past champions needing wheelchairs to get around the course etc. I've made my position clear and I'm now moving on as I am getting tired repeating myself.