Match Play a final chance for some players to get in Masters

Every shot matters every week on the PGA Tour. It only becomes more evident during certain times of the year, such as the cut off for finishing in the top 50 for the Masters.

Min Woo Lee is one case study. His chances of winning The Players Championship were long gone when he reached the 18th hole. Lee had a 12-foot par putt that he missed, dropping him into a sevenway tie for sixth place. If he had made the par putt, he would have been in a two-way tie for fifth.

Turns out that was a difference of being assured a spot in the Masters and having to sweat it out at the Dell Match Play this week. Lee is No. 47 in the world, and this is the final week for those not eligible for the Masters to get into the top 50. If he had made that putt, he would be No. 40.

Lee is not alone. Taylor Montgomery was tied for fourth at one point late Sunday at Sawgrass until a bogey on the 15th, a double bogey on the 16th and two balls in the water for a quintuple bogey on the 17th. He dropped all the way down to a tie for 55th, made no gains in the ranking and comes into Match Play at No. 57 in the world.

According to a world ranking guru known as “Nosferatu” on Twitter, Montgomery will need to reach the quarterfinals to have any chance of cracking the top 50.

Among those on the Masters bubble at the Match Play is Keith Mitchell at No. 45. He would figure to be a lock if he gets out of group play and might make it even if he doesn’t. Outside the top 50 along with Montgomery are Lucas Herbert (56), Denny McCarthy (58) and Rickie Fowler (59). Fowler, who would be in the 64-man field even without LIV Golf players being ineligible, will need to advance to the quarterfinals to have a chance of reaching the top 50.

Fowler is in the same Match Play group as Jon Rahm, Billy Horschel and Mitchell. He said he would play the Valero Texas Open next week if he doesn’t make the top 50 in the world. The winner of the Texas Open is the last player into the field at Augusta.

“Doing whatever I need to do to give myself the best chance to be in Augusta,” he said.

LIV out

The absence of LIV Golf players at the Match Play has made clear what everyone suspected all along — the World Golf Championships were part of the International Federation of PGA Tours, but it was the PGA Tour running the show.

That’s why nine players from LIV Golf who were among the top 66 in the world last week (Justin Rose and Justin Thomas chose not to play), were not eligible.

Of the 64-man field at Austin Country Club, 11 of them would not be playing if not for LIV.

Money for everyone

The PGA Tour in 1986 played for a total purse of just over $25 million (U.S.). This week alone, five tours under the PGA Tour umbrella are playing for nearly $27 million.

The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play leads the way with $20 million. The opposite-field event at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has a $3.8-million purse.

The PGA Tour Champions are playing for $2 million at The Galleri Classic in California, while the Korn Ferry Tour event in Georgia has a $1-million purse. The PGA Tour Latinoamerica is in Argentina with a prize fund of $175,000.