Stenson in but Siem comes up short in Masters bid

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) –

Henrik Stenson of Sweden chats with his caddie Gareth Lord on the eighth hole during the final round of the Shell Houston Open at the Redstone Golf Club on March 31, 2013 in Humble, Texas. Stenson’s share of second place at the Houston Open was enough to secure his eighth straight Masters berth, but a European tour title left Marcel Siem missing out on Augusta.

Henrik Stenson’s share of second place at the Houston Open was enough to secure his eighth straight Masters berth, but a European tour title left Marcel Siem missing out on Augusta.

Germany’s Siem captured the European Tour’s Hassan II Trophy in Morocco on Sunday and had moved to 49th in the projected world rankings list after his third Race to Dubai victory — just inside the top-50 needed to claim a spot in the first major championship of the year.

Siem’s dream of playing at Augusta National was undone however thanks to the results later in Texas.

A six-under par 66 for Stenson left him tied for second behind Houston Open winner D.A. Points, but that was enough to assure the Swede of jumping from 53rd in the world rankings to inside the top 50.

And American Russell Hendley, who only needed a top-53 showing in Houston to reach 50th in the world, shared 45th after a final-round 68, meaning he’ll move to 50th and bump Siem to 51st.

Stenson, who turns 37 on Friday, needed at least a top-10 finish to continue an unbroken Augusta appearance streak since making his Masters debut in 2006.

Stenson, whose lone US PGA title came at the 2009 Players Championship, was excited about reaching the Masters as he walked off the course in Houston with the clubhouse lead — later to be overtaken by Points.

“I said to my caddy coming up the 18th that no matter what happens now we are playing for the chance of a green jacket in a couple of weeks,” Stenson said.

“That was the main goal coming to Houston, to get to myself into the Masters, and I knew if I could finish top-10 I would take care of that goal.”

At one stage, Stenson had slumped to 230th in the world rankings and missed five cuts in six tournaments starting from the 2011 Masters.