Sports

Augusta Golfers Receive Masters Invitations

Augusta Golfers Receive Masters Invitations

It’s a holiday tradition like no other: Masters invitations are in the mail.

The majority of the field for the 70th Masters was set Monday when the final world golf ranking of the year was published. Invitations were extended to 99 players, although eight are former Masters champions who are not planning to compete, including Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Fourteen players will be making their Masters debut, including Sean O’Hair, Tour Championship winner Bart Bryant and Augusta resident Vaughn Taylor. They should be careful opening the mail this week, because the invitations are not trimmed in gold, much less green. Augusta Native Charles Howell will be making his 5th Masters appearance.

The final field will be determined March 27th, the Monday after The Players Championship. Players can still get in if they are in the top 50 in the world, or the top 10 on the current PGA Tour money list.

The Masters revamped its criteria in 2000 to no longer give PGA Tour winners an automatic invitation, instead rewarding consistent play through the world ranking the PGA Tour money list.

Blank Says He’s Had Conversations About Buying Braves

Braves

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says he has had conversations with officials about buying the Atlanta Braves.

But Blank — who also owns the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League — tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he is not sure if he wants to make the commitment of owning a third sports franchise.

Speculation about Blank buying the Braves began after it was made public last week that Time Warner wanted to sell the Braves along with cable television network Turner South.

Blank says he has had several conversations with Braves or Time Warner officials. When pressed, he defined the number as “more than two and less than five.”

Time Warner, unhappy with the financial performance of its regional cable network, Turner South, said last week it had retained Allen and Company to explore a possible sale of the network and the Braves.

Estimates vary on the value of the Braves-Turner South package. Expert John Mansell of Kagan Research says he would put the combined package at about 600 (m) million dollars.

Panthers and Falcons Stack Pro Bowl Roster

Panthers and Falcons Stack Pro Bowl Roster

N-F-L Pro Bowl rosters have been announced.

Both the Falcons and Panthers are well represented.

Michael Vick and Alge Crumpler lead Atlanta’s contingent to Hawaii.

Also going from the Falcons are Rod Coleman, Keith Brooking, and DeAngelo Hall.

Carolina’s star-studded tandem of Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith can also book flights to Honolulu.

They will be joined with Panther teammates Mark Wall and Julius Peppers.