Shell Houston winner gets last invite to the Masters

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Johnson Wagner
Feldman/Getty Images
Johnson Wagner won last year's Shell Houston Open, which earned him an invitation to the first Masters of his career.
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Mar. 31, 2009
By PGA TOUR Staff

Among the many benefits of winning the Shell Houston Open this week? An invite to the Masters Tournament next week.

The Shell Houston Open winner gains the last exemption into The Masters for a player not previously eligible. The Masters instituted the "win and you're in" criteria from 1972-99 and brought it back for 2008, with Johnson Wagner being the final beneficiary last year at the Shell Houston Open.

Davis Love III won the 1995 Freeport-McMoRan Classic to earn a position in the Masters, ultimately finishing second to Ben Crenshaw. Ranked No. 51 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Love is in a similar position this week at the Shell Houston Open, having fallen from No. 47 after missing the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Here's a look at other players who won the last tournament before the Masters to gain entry into the following week's major at Augusta:

Playing their way into Augusta
Player Tournament week victory prior to Masters Site Masters Finish
Johnson Wagner 2008 Shell Houston Open Houston T36
Paul Stankowski 1996 BellSouth Classic Atlanta MC
Davis Love III 1995 Freeport-McMoran Classic New Orleans 2
Mike Standly 1993 Freeport-McMoran Classic New Orleans MC
Tony Sills 1990 Independent Insurance Agent Open Houston MC
Mike Sullivan 1989 Independent Insurance Agent Open Houston 46
Joey Sindelar 1985 Greater Greensboro Open Greensboro, N.C. 31
Danny Edwards 1982 Greater Greensboro Open Greensboro, N.C. 24
Danny Edwards 1977 Greater Greensboro Open Greensboro, N.C. 19
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