The Masters has the smallest field of the major championships, with 94 players having earned invitations in 2008. Officially the Masters remains an invitation event but there is now a qualification process, although in theory the club could simply decline to invite a 'qualified' player. Here is a list of all players qualified to play in the 2008 Masters Tournament. Each player is classified according to the first category by which he qualified, but other categories are shown in parentheses:[2]
Winners of the Players Championship get three years of Masters invitations. With the Players having moved from March to May, beginning 2007, there will be only two such champions who have earned invitations to the Masters in both 2008 and 2009. In 2010 and after, once again three Players champions will have earned invitations to the Masters.
The Masters Tournament is played over four days with an eighteen-hole round being played each day, for a total of 72 holes plus practice rounds and a par-three contest on the neighboring par-three course. Everyone outside the top 44 and ties or outside ten strokes of the leader will be “cut” after 36 holes.
First round
Thursday, April 10, 2008
After an hour delay due to fog, Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman shot rounds of 68 (−4) to lead the field. For the players in the final few groups, the last holes were played in near darkness. Ian Poulter hit a hole in one on the 16th on the way to a 70. Defending champion Zach Johnson shot a 70 and four-time champion Tiger Woods shot an even-par 72. In all, 18 players shot sub-par rounds and the scoring average was 74.18.
Immelman shot another round of 68 (−4) to lead the field by one stroke at 136 (−8). Steve Flesch had the low round of the day at 67 and tied for third. Defending champion Zach Johnson shot a 76 for a two-round total of 146 (+2), tied for 29th. Woods shot a 71 and tied for 13th. The cut, to the top 44 players and ties, was at 147 (+3) and 45 players made the cut. In all, 28 players shot sub-par rounds for the day and the scoring average was 73.51. For the tournament, 19 players were under par and the scoring average was 73.84. Prayad Marksaeng withdrew after nine holes with a back injury. Fred Couples missed his first cut at the Masters (by one stroke), ending a streak of 23 consecutive cuts made, a record he shares with Gary Player and Tiger Woods.
Immelman shot a three-under 69 to remain in the lead at 205 (−11). Snedeker remained second and Steve Flesch third after rounds of 70 and 69 respectively. Paul Casey was the highest placed European at 209 (−7), with Woods two shots behind him. Woods, Zach Johnson, and Boo Weekley had the low rounds of the day at 68 (−4). For the round, 13 players were under par and the scoring average was 72.58. For the tournament, 18 players were under par and the scoring average was 73.60.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez had the low round of the day at 68 (−4). For the round, four players were under par and the scoring average was 74.67. For the tournament, ten players were under par and the scoring average was 73.77.
ESPN broadcast the first two rounds of the tournament for the first time. Previously, USA televised the first two rounds beginning in 1982. ESPN also carried the par-3 contest on Wednesday afternoon, the first time the competition had been televised. BBC broadcast the whole event in the United Kingdom, with coverage being shared among BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC Red Button. In the United States, CBS Sports televised the third and fourth rounds, as they have every year beginning in 1956.[8]
