AUGUSTA, Ga., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Masters tournament officials sent invitations to 100 players, including defending champion Phil Mickelson, for the year's first Grand Slam event.
"We have a tremendous field and the course is just the way we want it. We think that this year will be very special," said Billy Payne, chairman of the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club.
Masters officials said among the 100 players invited are five amateurs and 18 first-time Masters players. Payne said that Hideto Tanihara, who finished tied for fifth at the 2006 British Open, was given a special invitation to appear in his first Masters.
The list, however, is not the final field for the golf event.
The 2007 Masters is set for April 5-8. Mickelson won last year's tourament by two strokes.
