BMW PGA Champion Anders Hansen can look forward to a Masters Tournament debut after securing 50th place in the final Official World Golf Ranking of the year. Hansen is the 30th European Tour Member to earn an invitation to the first Major Championship of the 2008 season.
The Dane, who won The European Tour’s flagship event when he defeated England’s Justin Rose in a play-off at Wentworth Club, is one of six European Tour Members poised to make their debuts at Augusta National where American Zach Johnson will defend his title.
Hansen will be joined by his compatriot and namesake Søren, 46th in the World Ranking, and South African Richard Sterne, 44th in the World, as debutants who qualified courtesy of finishing in the top 50 of the final 2007 Official World Golf Ranking.
Other European Tour Members who will experience the magic of Augusta National for the first time are England’s Nick Dougherty, Australian Richard Green and Argentina’s Andres Romero, all of whom earned an invitation following their outstanding performances in the US Open and The Open Championships. Dougherty finished tied seventh at Oakmont in the US Open while Romero and Green finished third and joint fourth respectively in The Open at Carnoustie.
Henrik Stenson, Trevor Immelman, Lee Westwood, Nick O’Hern, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Robert Karlsson also secured their place in the field by finishing in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the year.
Johnson, who won the Green Jacket in April in only his third Masters when he carded a final round 69 for a one over par aggregate of 289, holding off the challenges of Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Tiger Woods to win his first Major Championship.
