If you put those two lists side by side and told people to bet on which was the list of qualifiers – everybody would bet the farm that the guys who DIDN’T get in was the list of guys who did get in.

McIlroy is still a kid – he’ll have lots of chances, but Singh, Hedblom, McGinley, Johansson, Sandelin and Clarke ? That’s a lot of traditionally present names. I’m going to miss Jarmo Sandelin – he’s about the only “fashion” dresser who makes Ian Poulter’s outfits look normal. :-)

I’m with you, Shank – not exempting Ryder Cuppers makes no sense. What is the R&A thinking ? No Ryder Cuppers, and the runner up in the British Am gets nothing. So much for the country with the biggest amateur tradition.

I don’t think the British draws more of an international field than the US Open, and the US Open has international qualifiers like the British. Of course, the US has a lot of “international” players because they live in the US.

Amazingly – Ryder Cuppers are not specifically listed as invitees into The Masters – but the requirements to make a Ryder Cup team pretty much fit into the list of Masters qualifications by World Rankings.

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (Three years)
6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
8. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion
9. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion
10. The first 16 players, including ties, in the 2007 Masters Tournament
11. The first 8 players, including ties, in the 2007 US Open Championship
12. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 British Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 PGA Championship
14. The 30 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for 2007
15. Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
16. Those qualifying for the season-ending 2007 Tour Championship
17. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for 2007
18. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2008 Masters
19. Your name is Michelle Wie (I just made that one up) :-D

The winner and runner up of the US Am also get into the next US Open – but not the winner and/or runner up of the Mid-Am or Public Links championships.

Check out this list of amateurs who are exempt from local qualifying:

L-2. All former winners of the U.S. Amateur Championship (must be amateur).

L-5. From the U.S. Amateur Public Links, US. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, the winners the last three years (2005 – 2007), and the runners-up from the most recent year (must be an amateur):

L-6. Winner of the 2005 USGA Senior Amateur Championship(must be an amateur):

L-7. Winners of the British Amateur Championship the last three years (2005 -2007) (must be an amateur.)

L-8. Quarterfinalists from the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship (must be an amateur.)

L-9. Playing members of the 2005 & 2007 United States Walker Cup and the 2004 & 2006 United States Men’s World Amateur Teams (must be an amateur.)

L-10. Playing members of the two most current United States Copa de las Americas Teams (2005 & 2007).

L-11. Winner of the 2008 individual NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship (must be an amateur). (NOTE: Blank entry will be filed by the USGA for player who becomes exempt after close of entries.)

L-12. Playing members of the five most recent United States and European Ryder Cup and United States & World Presidents Cup Teams.