Kevin Streelman earns Masters berth

Kevin Streelman's victory at the Tampa Bay Championship wasn't just his first PGA Tour win; it was also a ticket to the Masters

Kevin Streelman wins Tampa Bay Championship (Getty Images)

Kevin Streelman's victory at the Tampa Bay Championship wasn't just his first PGA Tour win; it was also a ticket to the Masters tournament.

Winners of PGA Tour events between the 2012 Masters and the 2013 Masters are automatically handed an invite to Augusta, provided those events award full FedEx Cup points.

"I always had a dream of getting here," said Streelman.

"To get this victory is a culmination of a lot of hard work and a lot of time spent late into the evening and getting up early in the morning. And it's really a dream come true"

Streelman has only made one previous appearance at the Masters, missing the cut in 2011.

The American will be looking to harness his new-found confidence and improve on a lacklustre record at the majors.

His best finish came at the U.S. Open in 2008, when he finished in a tie for 53rd.

With his victory, Streelman has also moved from 205th to 74th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x