Niemann, Olesen & Hisatsune First ‘Name’ Players In 22-Years Afforded ‘International Invitee’ Masters Invitations.

3 months ago by Comments Off on Niemann, Olesen & Hisatsune First ‘Name’ Players In 22-Years Afforded ‘International Invitee’ Masters Invitations.

Red-hot Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann is currently 31 places outside the top-50 on the World Rankings though he’s been afforded an ‘International Invitee’ invitation to compete in this year’s Masters at Augusta National.

Also receiving a similar invitation was Japanese-born Ryo Hisatsune, presently ranked No. 78 on the World Rankings.

Making-up a triple Masters invitation treat is World No. 59 Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark.

It’s the first time Augusta National has issued a similar ‘International Invitee’ invitation to any ‘name’ player in 22-years and when Greg Norman was afforded a such an invitation in 20o2, and in what was Norman’s 19th of 23 Masters appearances.

Looking at the current World Rankings, there are just a handful of players currently ranked between No. 51 and No. 80 on the rankings that have already assured their invitation into the 2024 Masters and they include current World No. 54 Grayson Murray, No. 60 Lee Hodges and the present World No. 70. American Nick Dunlap.  The trio have each won on this year’s 2024 PGA Tour to ensure automatic Masters entry.

So, why Olesen, Hisatune and Niemann?

Why not World No. 56 Shane Lowry or his victorious Rome Ryder Cup team-mate, Scot Robert MacIntyre and currently the World No. 71?

No, the members of Augusta National have exercised their discretion under the final category for invitations in selecting Olesen, Histanue and the current World No. 81st ranked Niemann.

“Today’s announcement represents the tournament’s continued commitment towards developing interest in the game of golf across the world,” Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, said in a statement.

“We look forward to welcoming each player to Augusta National this spring.”

It’s the first time, and all due respect to the likes of Ryo Ishikawa and Thaworn Wiratchant eleven years ago in 2013, that Augusta has extended an ‘International Invitee’ invitation to a player, let alone three as it had done today, to a ‘name’ player.

That was 2002 when Greg Norman was extended an invitation in 2002.

Yes, then double Japan Tour winner HidetoTanihara was afforded an ‘International Invitee’ invitation in 2007 and fellow Japan golfer Ishikawa in 2008, 2009 while there was the relatively unknown trio of Liang Wenchong, Prayad Marksaeng and Jeev Milka Singh while Singh’s fellow Indian-born Shubhankar Sharma received one in 2018.

However, from 2014 and up to including the 2023 Masters Augusta National has not extended just one ‘International Invitee’ invitation and that being Sharma.

You have to go back to the 1998 Masters, 26-years ago, when Augusta National afforded as many invitations to then ‘name’ players, and they were Darren Clarke, Ignacio Garrido, Retief Goosen, Shigeki Maruama and Massashi Ozaki.

Clarke, then aged 29, had won twice on the European Tour and was a member of the 1997 winning European Ryder Cup side, and his certainly justified the invitation sharing eighth place on his Masters debut.

Goosen was the same age as Clarke and like the Northern Irishman had won twice on the European Tour in making his Masters debut.

However, the choice of Olesen, Hisatsune and Niemann is a real ‘away from the norm’ move on Augusta’s part.

Olesen captured a 15th pro career title with his recent DP World Tour success at Ras Al Khaimah, and having made his Masters debut in 2013 and his only drive down Magnolia Lane was six years later.  The Dane has played 24 majors in his career, enjoying a best finish of T6th on that Augusta debut.

The 21-year-old Hisatsune thoroughly earned his Masters invitation.  He’s the reigning French Open champion and was not only named ‘DP World Tour Rookie of the Year’ but he earned his PGA Tour card by finishing top-10 on the 2023 Race to Dubai money list.

Hisatsune also ended his year losing out in a play-off to Niemann for the Australian Open title.

That leaves Niemann, as I mentioned in my introduction, he is one red-hot Chilean-born golfer not only capturing the Australian Open but then kick-starting 2024 with the 25-year finishing fourth in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Niemann then produced an opening round of 59, the lowest-ever on the LIV Tour, to capture the Mayakoba Championship on the first Sunday of February.

Immediately following his triumph at Mayakoba, where Niemann beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia with a 12-foot birdie on the fourth playoff hole in the fading light, the Chilean was clear about what his goals were.

“I want to win majors, but I gotta get in first,” Niemann said.

Of course, if LIV Golf events were under the umbrella of the OWGR then Neimann’s win would have seen him move well inside the top-50 and the assurance of an automatic fourth straight Augusta invitation.

It didn’t but then the green jacket members of Augusta National have answered Niemann’s post Mayakoba Championship winning wish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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