Several pros earn trips to Augusta National

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Either Tiger Woods or Rocco Mediate will hoist the U.S. Open trophy after an 18-hole playoff Monday.

As far as consolation prizes go, John Merrick and Carl Pettersson scored two big ones Sunday.

They tied for sixth at 3-over 287, good enough to earn an invitation to the Masters and an exemption from qualifying for next year's U.S. Open at Bethpage Black.

Not bad for two guys who had to go through qualifiers to get here.

The top eight get Masters invites and the top 15 are welcomed back to the U.S. Open.

Pettersson, of Sweden, shot a 3-under 68 on Sunday at Torrey Pines. Merrick, from up the freeway in Long Beach, had a 71.

It was the second Open for Merrick, who missed the cut in 2005.

"To play well like this is pretty gratifying," said Merrick, a UCLA graduate who had rounds of 73-72-71-71.

"It was one of those weeks where I had a good frame of mind and I just played consistent all week and never got out of my mode all week," he said. "Never got too excited. Never got too (upset) if something happened and just kind of moved on and just did my best.

"That was pretty cool."