Ryan Gerard flew 10,000 miles to a small island in the Indian Ocean this week with the express purpose of trying to reach 50th place in the Official World Golf Ranking and qualify for the 2026 Masters. We all know that wanting something so badly is not always the best recipe for success in golf, and Gerard competed against 155 other players at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open DP World Tour. He needed at least a draw for fourth place.
Good chances for a long journey, and yet Gerard was almost worth the effort.
Advertising
MORE: Golf simulator company offers new way to bet on yourself
The 26-year-old from North Carolina made a huge leap on Saturday, shooting a nine-under-par 63 to battle South Africa's Casey Jarvis at 16-under for first place ahead of the final round, which will be played overnight in US time.
Gerard made 10 birdies in his round, including five in a row and six in the final seven holes.
“Competing under pressure is the most fun you can have as a professional golfer,” Gerard said after Saturday's round. “I'm someone who loves to compete and hates to lose. If I win, I'm sure I'll have a chance to go and play at Augusta National in April.”
Advertising
Gerard, who lives in Jupiter, Florida, entered the week ranked No. 57 in the OWGR after a PGA Tour season in which he had four top-10 finishes in 29 starts, including a victory at the Barracuda Championship. The event is sponsored by the DP World Tour and the win qualified Gerard to compete in Mauritius.
However, he might not have braved the 27 hours (!) of the sprawling event in late December if OWGR officials hadn't let him know he had a chance to crack the top 50, with the carrot an automatic invitation to the Masters and his first appearance at Augusta National.
“I thought if I get another chance I'll give it my best shot and I might as well hang my hat on giving it my all for the season,” Gerard said Friday after shooting 69. “The top 50 at the end of the year will go to the Masters, so it's kind of a special kick in the ass to come 10,000 miles from Florida and tee off. It definitely wasn't on the bingo card at the beginning of the season. But I'm glad to be here. It's a really cool place.”
The final round will be nerve-wracking for Gerard, although he won't be the only one nervous about it. The current world No. 50 is Sam Stevens, a 29-year-old Oklahoma State graduate who had four top-10 finishes in 31 starts last season on tour. The knockout would be a tough outcome for Stevens, who is also hoping to play in his first Masters.
