Sweden’s Henrik Stenson will play in his eighth straight Masters after storming to the clubhouse lead in the storm-affected Shell Houston Open.

However’s Stenson’s joy is Marcel Siem’s disappointment and despite the German capturing the European Tour’s Hassan 11 Trophy in Morocco.

Siem had moved to 49^th on the World Rankings following his third Race to Dubai victory.

However his position was short-lived with Stenson moving above his ranking of 53^rd and effectively knocking Siem to 50^th.

But then Siem will be bumped to 51^st and one place outside of a Masters invitation as American Russell Hendley needed only to finish top-53 in Houston to move one place on the rankings and up to 50^th place.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson shoots a final round 66 to qualify for the Masters. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

In fact, Hendley was lying T45th at four under par and alongside the likes of World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, when play was halted.

Stenson had just handed in his scorecard of a fourth round 66 for a 15-under par tally when play was halted due to an approaching electrical storm in suburban Humble.

The Swede, who celebrates his 37^th birthday this Friday, arrived in America’s fourth largest city lying 53^rd on the World Rankings and needing to at least finish top-10 to continue an unbroken Augusta appearance since making his Masters debut in 2006.

Stenson ended his round with American D A Points the on-course leader in the $6.2m event at 16-under par through 14 holes of the Redstone course.

After dropping a shot at 13^th, Stenson birdied four of his closing five holes including birdie putts of 20 foot at the 17^th and then nine feet at the last.

But while Stenson is assured of competing in the Masters he could very well go to Augusta with a 13^th pro career victory and a second PGA Tour success after capturing the 2009 Players Championship title.

“I said to my caddy coming up the 18^th that no matter what happens now we are playing for the chance of a green jacket in a couple of weeks,” he said.

“That was the main goal coming to Houston to get to myself into the Masters and I knew if I could finish top-10 I would take care of that goal.

“But now I’ve given myself a chance to win the golf tournament but whether that happens or not it is a very pleasing finish to birdie four of my last five holes.

“I played some great shots coming down the stretch.”

At one stage, Stenson had slumped to 230^th in the World Rankings, and missing five halfway cuts in six tournaments starting from the 2011 Masters.

However the double Ryder Cup star has slowly started showing a return to good form as evident with his share of eighth behind Tiger Woods in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“I played really solid last week and again this week,” he said.

“But to be heading back to Augusta is really special for me.  It was looking good around Christmas time as I was just outside the top-50.

“I was just hoping that I could have played a lot more solid to get myself into the WGC – Cadillac Championship at Doral but I didn’t.

“But after competing in the Middle East Swing on the European Tour I’ve got my game back on track and that’s very pleasing.”