Ridley: Masters to allow LIV golfers
‘Augusta making the right call,’ LIV Golf tweets in reaction to the news
LIV Golf League players will be able to compete in next year’s Masters after Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said yesterday the event will keep “current criteria” for 2023 entrants. Without mentioning the Saudibacked series by name, Ridley said: “Our focus is to honour the tradition of bringing together a pre-eminent field of golfers this coming April. Therefore, as invitations are sent this week, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters tournament.”
Of 78 players currently qualified for the 2023 Masters, 16 are LIV Golf members. “Augusta making the right call,” LIV Golf tweeted in reaction to the news.
Six former Masters champions are set for next year’s first major golf showdown at the historic venue. They include Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner and six-time major champion who was the first top player to push LIV Golf forward.
Other past Masters winners in LIV Golf eligible to return in 2023 include fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson plus Spaniard Sergio Garcia and South African Charl Schwartzel. World number three Cameron Smith of Australia, the reigning British Open champion, is also among other LIV players who have qualified under the current criteria.
Major triumphs
Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka qualify based on major triumphs within the past five years and Chili’s Joaquin Niemann has also locked up a spot. South African Louis Oosthuizen, Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and Americans Kevin Na, Jason Kokrak, Talor Gooch and Harold Varner. will also qualify for the April 6-9 Major.