Pro golfer's Masters dream shattered by heartbreaking World Ranking twist
Marcel Siem's heartbreaking near-miss at qualifying for the 2013 Masters showcases one of golf's most cruel twists of fate. After winning the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco, Siem's World Ranking jumped from 72nd to what initially appeared to be within the crucial top 50 needed to qualify for Augusta.
The celebration was short-lived. Just five hours after his victory, Henrik Stenson's strong finish at the Shell Houston Open (birdieing the final two holes to tie for 2nd) bumped Siem to 51st in the rankings - missing qualification by a mere .0251 points.
The PGA Tour offered Siem a last-chance opportunity at the Valero Texas Open. This led to a frantic journey involving a private jet from Morocco to Frankfurt, where he found his wife passed out at home after celebrating what she thought was his Masters qualification.
In Texas, Siem made a valiant effort, getting within one shot of the lead with seven holes to play in the final round. However, a triple-bogey on the 12th hole ended his Masters dreams. He finished tied for 10th, earning $155,000 - just enough to cover his expensive private jet journey.
In Siem's own words: "Sunday after the round you are in the Masters, and five hours later you're out. All of a sudden in Texas you got the chance again, and out again. Yeah, it was tough. It was really tough."
The story serves as a reminder of just how fine the margins can be in professional golf, especially when it comes to qualifying for the sport's most prestigious tournament.