Michael Kim just sneaks into top 50, earns Masters invite despite equipment drama

Michael Kim's career renaissance reached a new milestone as he secured a coveted Masters invitation by the narrowest of margins, despite a cracked driver threatening to derail his chances during the final round of the Texas Children's Houston Open.

Kim, 31, entered the tournament riding a wave of momentum. Outside the Official World Ranking top 150 just two months ago, Kim strung together five consecutive finishes of T-13 or better, including a runner-up showing in Phoenix and a fourth-place finish at Bay Hill. Positioned at No. 52 in the Official World Golf Ranking before this week, Kim was tantalizingly close to the crucial top-50 cutoff that would guarantee entry into Augusta National.

The drama intensified as both Kim and fellow Masters hopeful Ben Griffin (ranked No. 53) made the cut, setting up a weekend battle for precious ranking points. While Griffin made a Sunday charge with an impressive 65 to finish T-18, Kim's T-32 result proved just enough to vault him into the 50th position in the rankings, with Griffin finishing agonizingly one spot behind at 51st.

What makes Kim's achievement even more remarkable was the equipment adversity he faced during the crucial final round.

"I made some pretty nervy swings on the back nine there thinking about it," Kim revealed afterward. "My driver cracked on, I don't know exactly what hole but it was cracked and I was trying to get a replacement on 18, but rules official took too long for it so I just hit it anyway."

Kim wasn't alone in celebrating a trip to Augusta, as Daniel Berger, Laurie Canter, Stephan Jaeger and J.J. Spaun also finished inside the top 50 rankings cutoff to earn their spots in the prestigious tournament.