“We’ve reached a seminal level within the historical past of our sport,” Augusta Nationwide chairman Fred Ridley stated in an announcement, through which he lamented that the divisions in golf are diminishing the virtues of the sport. “At Augusta Nationwide,” he stated, “we’ve religion that golf, which has overcome many challenges by the years, will endure once more.”
Former Masters champions Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel are amongst those that might be included within the discipline for this 12 months’s match, which runs from April 6-9.
Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner, didn’t play at Augusta final 12 months as controversy swirled round his dalliance with LIV and his feedback concerning the circuit’s Saudi sponsors. Ridley stated that Mickelson had not been disinvited.
LIV Golf ‘s first season consisted of eight occasions and led to late October, with not one of the sport’s 4 main tournaments banning LIV golfers. Nonetheless, the PGA Tour will preserve LIV gamers from collaborating in its marquee occasion, the Gamers Championship.
Cameron Smith, the highest-rated participant to hitch the breakaway circuit, certified for the Masters by successful the 2022 British Open, whereas Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka might be invited as a result of they’ve been U.S. Open champions within the final 5 years. Though Joaquin Niemann left the PGA Tour in September, he qualifies as a result of he completed within the high 30 within the FedEx Cup standings, as did Talor Gooch.
As well as, any participant who’s within the high 50 within the World Golf Rankings on Dec. 31 would additionally obtain an invite. Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na, Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen would all qualify underneath that customary.
LIV gamers Paul Casey, Marc Leishman and Cameron Tringale gained’t be on the Masters as a result of they dropped out of the highest 50 and gained’t obtain factors wanted to be ranked.
LIV Golf has pushed for recognition from the OWGR, which serves as a gatekeeper for the game, serving to determine entry into golf’s greatest tournaments. If LIV gamers can’t accumulate factors, they’ll proceed to slip down the rankings, finally placing extra of them prone to lacking golf’s greatest occasions.
“By the years, legends of the sport have competed and gained at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership,” Ridley stated within the assertion. “Champions like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Participant, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have develop into heroes to golfers of all ages. They’ve impressed some to observe of their footsteps and so many others to play and benefit from the sport. They’ve supported the game and, thus, all who profit from it. They’ve proven respect for many who got here earlier than them and blazed a path for future generations. Golf is healthier due to them.
“Regrettably, current actions have divided males’s skilled golf by diminishing the virtues of the sport and the significant legacies of those that constructed it. Though we’re dissatisfied in these developments, our focus is to honor the custom of bringing collectively a preeminent discipline of golfers this coming April.”