Daniel Berger and Laurie Canter are on a quest to break into the top 50 as the PGA Tour's Florida swing unofficially marks the start of the road to the Masters. Both players finished last year outside the top 100 in the world, and with only five tournaments remaining before Augusta National takes the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking on March 30, time is of the essence. Currently, the Masters field is set with 91 players expected to compete, and this figure is projected to stay under 100 for the 59th consecutive year.
Stephan Jaeger stands out as the sole player to have moved into the top 50 through the first two months of the season. Meanwhile, Laurie Canter, who made his last LIV appearance in Las Vegas over a year ago, has European tour events lined up at the Joburg Open, Singapore Classic, and Indian Open before the Masters cutoff. A strong performance in these events could be enough to propel him into the top 50. This week's tournament also serves as a cutoff for top-50 players to gain entry into The Players Championship.
Daniel Berger has shown promise with a tie for second at the Phoenix Open and a tie for 12th at the Genesis Invitational. These performances have elevated him to No. 58 in the world rankings. Similarly, Ben Griffin has climbed eight spots, now standing at No. 53, while Eric Cole currently holds the No. 42 position.
The Florida swing offers six tournaments where players can secure a place at the Masters by winning. With Laurie Canter's hometown tournament, the Cognizant Classic, also in play, both he and Berger are eyeing opportunities to improve their standings. A strong finish in these events is crucial as they aim to make their mark before heading to Augusta.
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