The Loop

Lonard, Leonard, Kaymer get into Masters

March 31, 2008

Peter Lonard didn't think his runner-up finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was enough to get him into the Masters. "It'll probably be on my TV screen while I'm drinking beer or something," said the 39-year-old Australian after his final-round 69 kept him one back of Zurich winner Andres Romero. "Unless I win next week." But Lonard got some good news Monday when the updated World Ranking was released. Lonard climbed from 72nd to 46th and earned a last-minute invitation to Augusta National. Players in the top 50 after New Orleans who were not already exempt into the Masters will be invited. Joining Lonard on that list are 26th-ranked Martin Kaymer and 35th-ranked Justin Leonard. Kaymer, who won in Abu Dhabi on the European Tour in January, and Leonard, who has four top-10s on the PGA Tour this year, had secured their berths weeks ago and were just awaiting the official announcement. The only remaining way a player can get into the Masters is to win this week's Shell Houston Open.