Niclas Fasth, Paul McGinley and Adam Scott will make their debuts in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club from April 11-14, in a field containing no fewer than 25 European Tour Members.
In addition to the 25 European Tour Members, equalling the record set in 2001, the Amateur Champion Michael Hoey from Northern Ireland will also be making his first appearance at Augusta National.
A total of 95 players have been invited to the 2002 Masters Tournament, including 60 US and 35 International players. Among the participants are five amateurs and 11 first time participants.
"We are very happy with the quality and worldwide representation of players in this year's field," Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Hootie Johnson said. "Competing at the 2002 Masters are outstanding golfers from both the United States and around the world."
Included in the field is Honorary European Tour Member Greg Norman after receiving a special invitation to compete in the 2002 Tournament.
"We are pleased to extend Greg a special invitation to play in the 2002 Masters," Johnson said. "Greg has provided our patrons with much excitement by his inspired and superior play during his 21 years at Augusta National."
Playing in his first Masters Tournament in 1981, Norman has made the cut 16 times, and has 12 top 25 finishes. He was second or tied for second in 1986, 1987 and 1996. Norman (1996) and Nick Price (1986) share the record for low 18 hole total of 63.
Fasth makes his debut after finishing runner-up to David Duval at the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The Swede was also tied for second at the Murphy's Irish Open, joint third at the Madeira Island Open and fifth at the Tropheé Lancôme on the 2001 European Tour International Schedule and qualified for the 2002 European Ryder Cup Team. His maiden victory came in the 2000 Madeira Island Open.
McGinley captured his third European Tour title by winning the 2001 Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open on the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off. The Irishman was also joint second in the Benson and Hedges International Open and second at the Volvo Masters Andalucia in a season in which he qualified for the European Ryder Cup team for the first time.
Scott captured his maiden European Tour title when he won the 2001 alfred dunhill championship. He was also third in The Compass Group English Open and Volvo Masters Andalucia and joint third at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on his way to finishing season 13th in the Volvo Order of Merit and 49th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Several opportunities still remain for players to compete in next year's event. Invitations may also be issued to those not qualified to date who:
Win The 2002 Players Championship.
Finish among the three leaders on the 2002 Official PGA Tour Money List published during the fourth week prior to the Masters.
Finish among the 50 leaders on the 2002 Official World Golf Ranking published during the fourth week prior to the Masters.
The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also may invite additional International players not otherwise qualified.
2002 MASTERS TOURNAMENT INVITEES
Qualified as of December 18, 2001
Tommy Aaron
Robert Allenby (Australia)
Billy Andrade
Stuart Appleby (Australia)
George Archer
Paul Azinger
Severiano Ballesteros (Spain)
Thomas Björn (Denmark)
Gay Brewer Jr.
Mark Brooks
Jack Burke Jr
Angel Cabrera (Argentina)
Mark Calcavecchia
Michael Campbell (New Zealand)
Billy Casper
Stewart Cink
Darren Clarke (N. Ireland)
José Coceres (Argentina)
Charles Coody
Fred Couples
Ben Crenshaw
Bubba Dickerson
Chris DiMarco
Joe Durant
David Duval
Ernie Els (South Africa)
Bob Estes
Nick Faldo (England)
Niclas Fasth (Sweden)
Brad Faxon
Raymond Floyd
Doug Ford
Jim Furyk
Sergio Garcia (Spain)
Bob Goalby
Retief Goosen (South Africa)
Robert Hamilton
Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
Scott Hoch
*Michael Hoey (N. Ireland)
Charles Howell III
Toshi Izawa (Japan)
*Tim Jackson
Lee Janzen
Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain)
Shingo Katayama (Japan)
Herman Keiser
Jerry Kelly
Tom Kite
Bernhard Langer (Germany)
Paul Lawrie (Scotland)
Tom Lehman
Justin Leonard
Frank Lickliter
Davis Love III
Steve Lowery
Sandy Lyle (Scotland)
Shigeki Maruyama (Japan)
Billy Mayfair
Scott McCarron
Paul McGinley (Ireland)
Rocco Mediate
Phil Mickelson
Larry Mize
Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)
Byron Nelson
Jack Nicklaus
Greg Norman (Australia)
Mark O'Meara
José Maria Olazábal (Spain)
Arnold Palmer
Jesper Parnevik (Sweden)
Tom Pernice Jr.
Kenny Perry
Gary Player (South Africa)
Nick Price (Zimbabwe)
Chez Reavie
Adam Scott (Australia)
Vijay Singh (Fiji)
Jeff Sluman
Sam Snead
Craig Stadler
Steve Stricker
Kevin Sutherland
Hal Sutton
Toru Taniguchi (Japan)
David Toms
Kirk Triplett
Scott Verplank
Tom Watson
Mike Weir (Canada)
Lee Westwood (England)
Tiger Woods
Ian Woosnam (Wales)
Fuzzy Zoeller
(US unless stated)
