Stephen Ames, of Canada, hits his drive on the 18th hole during the second round of the Transitions Championship golf tournament Friday, March 19, 2010, at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press
Stephen Ames is expected to miss the Masters next month for the first time since 2005.
The Calgary golfer needed a high finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando to climb into the top 50 of the world rankings and earn an invitation to golf's first major tournament of the year.
But he was tied for just 30th place Sunday at the PGA Tour event when play was suspended because of bad weather and unlikely to earn enough rankings points to improve on his No.54 standing.
Ames had played in five Masters in a row, with his best finish a tie for 11th place in 2006.
There are many ways to qualify for the Masters, but the top 50 as of the end of 2009 and, again, as of today are assured spots. The lone remaining berth will go to the winner of the Shell Houston Open next Sunday. Ames is not entered.
Mike Weir will be Canada's lone representative at Augusta National Golf Club - unless Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., happens to win next Sunday in Houston. Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., was tied for 40th place yesterday in Orlando but had already qualified for the Masters by winning the 2003 edition.
While Ames stayed on the outside looking in, five others joined the Masters field: Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, K.J. Choi of South Korea, Alvaro Quiros of Spain and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.
Each has moved into the top 50 during 2010.
Oosthuizen made the biggest last-minute leap, winning the Andalusia Open in Spain yesterday to move to about No..45 from No..60.
The invitations will not be official until the Arnold Palmer Invitational ends on Monday.
With the addition of the five players, the field is expected to be at least 98 players - the largest since 103 players competed in the 1966 Masters.
With a report from The Associated Press