Grillo earns Masters spot

Emiliano Grillo says he is delighted to have earned his place in the Masters after victory in the Frys.com Open.

The 23-year-old, who started the final round in Napa in fourth place, came through a play-off against American Kevin Na after both players finished the tournament on -15.

Grillo, who missed the chance to win the Puerto Rico Open this year, carded six birdies and three bogeys for a three-under-par 69 but he almost blew another opportunity for a maiden title.

The Argentine missed a short putt on the first extra hole to claim the championship but he showed great mental strength to hole an effort from 10 foot on the next to lift the trophy.

Victory has also secured Grillo’s place in the 2016 Masters, the opening major of the season, and the South American is looking forward to making an appearance at Augusta National.

“You say Masters, I can’t believe it,” he said. “When I got the [PGA Tour] card after the Web.com Championship, I saw I was 71 or 72 in the world and said, ‘We got a chance of getting top 50 by the end of the year, let’s try to get it done.’

“Maybe we can play the tournaments we always wanted to play.”

There was a three-way tie for third with Tyrone Van Aswegen, Justin Thomas and Jason Bohn all finishing on -14, while Englishman Justin Rose was one of four players in a share of sixth.