Gerard’s 20,000 Mile Round Trip Earns Masters Invitation

4 hours ago by 0

Ryan Gerard has travelled a distance of some 20,000 miles to earn himself an invitation into next April’s Masters.

The is the American’s reward despite the disappointment of losing out in a play-off for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title.

Gerald sought to travel the near 10,000 miles to the Indian Ocean holiday island off the east coast of the African continent after receiving a ‘heads-up’ from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) body that if he teed-up in the co-sanctioned Sunshine/DP World Tour event there was a good chance, if did well in the touranment of improving his current World No. 57 and mabye break into the world’s top 50.

As we know, those inside the top-50 on the World Rankings at the end of each year, and who are not otherwise exempt, earn an invitation to the Masters.

The 26-year-old, who turned pro just three years ago has enjoyed a wonderful season finishing T8th in the PGA Championship, capturing a maiden PGA Tour title in July at the Barracuda Championship and now going to close to victory in Mauritius.

And despite losing out in a play-off to local hero Jayden Schaper, Gerard’s effort will see him move inside the top-50 and embark on the 10,000 mile return journey to his Sunshine State residence as the new World No. 46.

Gerard spoke post his second round in Mauritius in the event he did earn a Masters invtitation.

“The kind people at the OWGR sent me some end-of-year projections,” he said.

“I’m just outside the top 50. I figured I’d have one more crack at that and give it my best shot. Then I could hang my hat on giving it my all for the season, and the top 50 by the end of the year to get into The Masters.

“So that’s kind of a kick in the pants to come 10 000 miles from Florida and tee it up.

“It wasn’t on the Bingo card at the start of the season for sure, but I’m excited to be here. It’s a really cool place, and hopefully two more solid rounds will make it a nice trip that was worth it.”

So he’s heading to the Masters and what should be a relatively easy drive from his Florida abode to the gates of the Augusta National.

It also should now be just a matter of days when a letter postmarked Augusta, GA will arrive at his Jupiter address.

What a wonderful 2025 for Gerard who began the year in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as the World No. 206th teeing-up in the Sony Open in Hawaii.

 

 



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