Thursday 29 March 2018 18:15, UK
This week’s Houston Open offers one final opportunity for PGA Tour players to secure a last-minute invite to the Masters.
Some 86 players are already exempt to play in the opening men's major of the year, live on Sky Sports, with the only available place in the field going to the winner in Houston this week.
Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth and former Masters winner Adam Scott feature in this week's line-up and are already secure of a place at Augusta, although there are a number of high-profile names still not certain of a major appearance next week.
Four of the last five Houston winners have all booked a late Masters spot as a result, with 2017 champion Russell Henley following on from Jim Herman, Matt Jones and D.A Points in recent years.
Ian Poulter is the highest-ranked player not already in next week's field, despite the world No 51 believing he had qualified during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
A miscalculation saw Poulter told that a last-eight finish would be enough to secure a 13th Masters appearance, only for him to lose his next match and miss out by 0.03 world ranking points.
There are currently eight Englishman in next week's field, with two-time Augusta runner-up Lee Westwood also looking to add to that list and avoid missing his first Masters since 2004.
Shane Lowry has appeared in the last three Masters tournaments but will miss out without a victory at Golf Club of Houston, with fellow Irishman Paul Dunne chasing an Augusta debut.
Four-time major champion Ernie Els' five-year exemption for winning The Open in 2012 is over, while two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen and Presidents Cup captain Steve Stricker are also both yet to qualify.
Russell Knox features this week and aims to join Sandy Lyle as the Scottish contingent at Augusta, while Ryder Cup winner Brandt Snedeker needs a victory to feature at the Masters for the eighth consecutive year.
Watch the Houston Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins with Featured Groups on Thursday from 1.30pm on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.
