Marc Warren was taking his young family north of San Antonio for a flight from Austin and back to the U.K. unaware he had missed out on contesting a maiden Masters by just .0094 World Ranking points.

That’s all the points that separated Warren from England’s Luke Donald who could consider himself fortunate to be competing in the year’s first Major and his 11th straight Masters.

Donald, who sat out today’s concluding Valero Texas Open, dropped two places from No. 48 in the world to No. 50 and the assurance of an Augusta tee time.

Warren was extremely gracious in falling agonizingly short and was looking at the bigger picture of returning to the States on at least three more occasions this year starting with the Cadillac Match-Play Championship in a month’s time in San Francisco.

Marc Waarren missing out on a maiden Masters by just .0994 of a World Ranking point. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

The Scot arrived in San Antonio needing to finish top-18 to be assured of heading to Augusta but eventually settled for a T35th position.

There was some hope Warren could still scrape into the season’s first Major but only if he also finished in front of American Brendon Todd who has already qualified for Augusta.

However as it turned out Todd left San Antonio sharing 30th place at four over par and one fewer than Warren and who jumped two places from 51st on the rankings to 49th.

Hurting Warren over the four San Antonio days was eight three putts while he ended his round with one less club in bag – well the club was in the bag but it was in two pieces!

The biggest surprise is a decision by fellow American Harris not to contest this week’s Shell Houston Open with Harris, who has not qualified for Augusta, arriving and leaving the Alamo City as the World No. 53.

Harris could have entered this week’s Shell Houston Open and with the winner to secure the last remaining Masters invitation but Harris did not enter.