LIV champ questions Ror dream
BY ANDREW GAMBLE
RORY MCILROY is still dreaming of securing his final major title at The Masters - but LIV Golf champion Talor Gooch believes victory this year would have an ‘asterisk’.
While fans will wait to see narratives unfolding around Tiger Woods’ fitness and Jon Rahm’s hopes of successfully defending his title at Augusta, many will focus on Mcilroy’s continued quest to complete the career grand slam. The Masters is the final major title eluding the Northern Irishman’s grasp.
He is hoping to finally win the coveted Green Jacket this year, but Gooch believes a win this year would be marred by a lack of the top LIV Golf stars present.
Gooch is the reigning 2023 LIV Golf’s individual champion but he was denied a Masters invitation.
Despite winning three times on last year’s LIV Golf circuit where he beat the likes of Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Bryson Dechambeau and Dustin Johnson in the season-long points race, Gooch will not compete at Augusta.
The American is clearly frustrated by the decision and suggested the 2024 Masters will ultimately have an ‘asterisk’ due to his omission.
“If Rory Mcllroy goes and completes his Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there’s just going to be an asterisk,” Gooch said.
“It’s just the reality. I think everybody wins whenever the majors figure out a way to get the best players in the world there.”
Mcilroy will compete against LIV stars Rahm, Smith, Johnson and Dechambeau at Augusta alongside Phil Mickelson, Joaquin Niemann, Adrian Meronk, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and new signing Tyrrell Hatton.
Despite their differences and rivalry amid the divide in golf between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, commissioner Greg Norman said he wouldn’t hesitate to praise or congratulate Mcilroy if he won the Masters.