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Japan’s Imahira receives special invitation to Masters
WASHINGTON, Jan 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s Shugo Imahira, last year’s
Japan Golf Tour leading money winner, has accepted a special invitation to
play in this year’s Masters tournament, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley
said Tuesday.
The 26-year-old from suburban Tokyo will make his Masters debut after
missing the cut in all three prior major starts at the 2016 British Open,
2017 US Open and 2018 PGA Championship.
Imahira, ranked 53rd in the world, had 14 top-10 finishes last year and won
his second career title at the Bridgestone Open, closing with three birdies
for a one-stroke victory. His other Japan Tour title came at the 2017 Kansai
Open.
“Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts established the Masters as a global
sporting event, so throughout our history special invitations for deserving
international players have always been carefully considered,” Ridley said.
“We are pleased to continue this tradition by welcoming Shugo Imahira to
our field this year based on his impressive record during the past 12 months.
We look forward to hosting him and all of our Masters competitors in April.”
A field of 80 is set for the year’s first major tournament April 11-14 with
two ways remaining to crack the lineup for the 83rd edition of the golfing
classic at Augusta National — win a full-points PGA event or finish in the
world rankings top 50 in the week before the Masters.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0843 hrs