Sensibly Reducing The Crowded Masters Field

Few first world problems are more acute than that of the Masters and the desire to keep the field under 100 players for logistical reasons (starting weekday tee times at a civilized hour, for one).

And as this year's field approaches the number, Doug Ferguson makes a strong case for keeping the PGA Tour winner's exemption restored by Chairman Billy Payne, but trimming some of the official world golf ranking fat from the field.

Perhaps it’s time to get rid of the first cutoff for the top 50 at the end of a calendar year, and simply have one deadline at the end of the Florida swing. That still allows two weeks for players to plan a trip to Augusta. And the tournament is more likely to have the top players in form.

Dating to 2008, when the Masters returned to its policy of awarding spots to PGA Tour winners, an average of nearly three players per year were among the top 50 at the end of the year and failed to stay in the top 50 at the end of March.

There was so much turnover in 2010 that five players were added to the field after the March cutoff. Five others who had been in the top 50 at the end of 2009 still got into the Masters. Three of them missed the cut.