Augusta National Chairman, Billy Payne delivered his now annual ‘State of the Masters’ address and announcing big changes to the qualification process for the Masters.
However there was both good and bad news for the PGA Tour.
Payne announced this morning that no longer will the top-30 players on the FedEx Cup Play-Off series qualify for the following year’s Masters but then the winners from those events making up the Tour’s ‘Fall Series’ will earn an Augusta invitation.
Billy Payne, Augusta National Chairman speaking toda
Payne outlined changes to the Masters qualifying saying: “During the past 12 months, we have gained a more complete understanding of the modifications to the PGA Tour schedule and have made appropriate changes to our qualifications to adhere to our Founders’ philosophy.
“As many of you know, I have been personally fully committed to players gaining entry to the tournament after winning a PGA Tour event. All of us take great pride and pleasure in seeing a tournament winner beam with pride and excitement knowing that his victory had earned him an invitation to the Masters.
“This, of course, has recently come with the caveat, that the events provide a full‑point allocation for the season ending Tour championship. With the PGA Tour’s new schedule structure changing later this year, I’m happy to announce that our qualification of tournament winners will continue, including for those who win the events providing full points in the fall.
“With the reality thereby of adding competitors to our field, we have decided to amend three of our qualifications in an effort to maintain similar field size for the 2014 Tournament.
* First, the Top‑12, no longer the Top‑16, from the Masters, will earn invitations starting from 2014.
* Second, the Top‑4, no longer the Top‑8, from the U.S. Open, will earn invitations. This is now consistent with the qualifications criteria we allocate for The Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
* In what will be a shock to the PGA Tour, Augusta is removing the year‑end Top‑30 PGA Tour Money List winners from our qualifications.
Payne did announce a few changes to the qualifications for the Masters, beginning in 2014 with the six events that formerly made up “the Fall Series” have been given equal billing in the Tour’s new wraparound schedule and its winners will now earn an automatic berth into the Masters. Augusta National returned to its practice of inviting Tour winners the year after the FedEx Cup began in 2007.
“All of us take great pride and pleasure in seeing a tournament winner beam with pride and excitement knowing that his victory had earned him an invitation to the Masters,” said Payne.
Frys.com Open president Duke Butler called the announcement “a great day for the season-opening events,” and added, “I’m certain we’ll send a great champion to the Masters.”
* Also at the conclusion of the first two rounds of this year’s Masters, the cut will be increasing our cut from 40 to 50 players and ties, plus those within ten strokes of the leader.
On others issues here is what Payne said:
1. FEMALE MEMBERSHIP AT AUGUSTA:
Payne delighted with the decision made following the 2012 Masters
“Now before go any further, and because I think you’re interested, we would like to reaffirm the enthusiasm we expressed last August when we announced that Condoleeza Rice and Darla Moore had become members of Augusta National Golf Club,” he said. “I hope the experience for Condi and Darla as members of our club has been every bit as rewarding and enjoyable for them over the last eight months as it has been for their fellow members. It’s just awesome.”
2. PROPOSED ANCHORING BAN:
Payne not about to be drawn into the controversy.
“Given the fact that the ruling bodies have not yet declared a decision following that open comment period, I do think it would be inappropriate for us to express an opinion; other than to say, other than to say, that we hope and believe that they can reach common ground so that golf will continue under one set of rules.”
3. TARGETING MORE AMATEUR GROWTH:
Payne excited with Augusta’s drive into Asia.
“What we’ve done is do what we’re supposed to do, and that is to be a beacon in the world of golf and to do our best to influence others to want to be a part of it,” he said
4. DEER ANTLER SPRAY CONTROVERSY:
Payne cleverly sidesteps the issue of Vijay Singh, and a former Masters champion, competing in the 77th Masters.
“We are supporters of the World Golf Foundation’s anti‑doping policy, and under their current rules and regulations, he is currently qualified to participate, and we follow those rules, so he’s going to participate here.”
5. WILL AUGUSTA AFFIX A PLAQUE WHERE BUBBA WATSON PLAYED HIS MIRACLE PLAY-OFF SHOT IN 2012
“I don’t know, we haven’t talked about that. I guess I don’t know the answer to that. I think we’d have to get a little more time to see how history remembers that before we would make that decision.”
