• The Masters

Gallacher gets top 50 invite to Augusta

ESPN staff
March 31, 2014
Stephen Gallacher moved into the top 50 with victory at the Dubai Desert Classic © Getty Images
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Stephen Gallacher is the only player to make it into the Masters field via the top 50 in the world criteria that ended with the Texas Open.

Scot Gallacher, one of 20 players who will play in his first Masters next week, moved into the top 50 when he captured the Dubai Desert Classic in February. He is now 37th in the world.

He is the only player to take advantage of the invite that allows entry to any player who is in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday who was not otherwise in the field. The Masters also invited players who were in the top 50 at the end of 2013.

In the last five weeks, four players have earned an invitation by winning on the PGA Tour: Russell Henley (Honda Classic), John Senden (Valspar Championship), Matt Every (Arnold Palmer Invitational) and Steven Bowditch (Texas Open).

Among those who had a chance to move into the top 50 with strong finishes in San Antonio were Chesson Hadley and Ryan Palmer. Hadley needed a top seven or better while Palmer needed to finish in the top three, but both shot in the 80s during the final round.

The only other way into the field, which currently stands at 96, is to win this week's Houston Open.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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