The Masters will allow golfers who joined LIV Golf to play in the tournament next year; "Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honour the tradition of bringing together a pre-eminent field of golfers this coming April," said chairman Fred Ridley
Wednesday 21 December 2022 12:22, UK
LIV golfers will be allowed to compete in The Masters in 2023, organisers at Augusta National have confirmed.
Despite the fracture in the sport brought about by LIV Golf, the tournament organisers say their ultimate focus is to bring together "a pre-eminent field of golfers" and they will invite players who are eligible under their current criteria.
It means previous champions such as Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Phil Mickelson will be at The Masters in April, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are among the LIV players who will also qualify as a result of winning a major in the past five years.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said in July that banning LIV players from next year's Open was "not on the agenda", but did not rule out changing the championship's entry criteria.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley took a similar stance on Tuesday, saying in a statement that the entry criteria for 2023 would remain the same, with any possible future changes announced in April.
In a statement, Ridley said: "From its inception in 1934, the purpose of the Masters Tournament has been to benefit the game of golf. Each April, the Masters assembles the world's leading golfers to compete for the Green Jacket and a place in history. It provides a stage for fans to experience dramatic moments of competition at the highest level and promotes the sport domestically and abroad.
"Through the years, legends of the game have competed and won at Augusta National Golf Club. Champions like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have become heroes to golfers of all ages. They have inspired some to follow in their footsteps and so many others to play and enjoy the game. They have supported the sport and, thus, all who benefit from it. They have shown respect for those who came before them and blazed a trail for future generations. Golf is better because of them.
"Regrettably, recent actions have divided men's professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it. Although we are disappointed in these developments, 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. As we have said in the past, we look at every aspect of the Tournament each year, and any modifications or changes to invitation criteria for future Tournaments will be announced in April.
"We have reached a seminal point in the history of our sport. At Augusta National, we have faith that golf, which has overcome many challenges through the years, will endure again."
Four-time major champion and Sky Sports Golf analyst Dame Laura Davies...
"Well I suppose basically I'm pleased because it means we'll get to see the best players in the world playing together, albeit this has been caused by the new Saudi league, which has caused a rift in men's golf.
"It's unfortunate, because all the golf fans want, and I consider myself a golf fan, is to see the best players playing together.
"The fact Augusta is doing it, and we know The Open will be doing the same, I think the majors are a standalone event, and those tournaments make their own decisions.
"Personally, I think it's a good thing we're going to see all the very best players in the world playing at Augusta in April.
"I think there's a long way to go [before there is harmony between rivalling tours in the men's game]. There are thoughts that if [LIV CEO] Greg Norman stepped aside it might make things a bit easier.
"There's a lot of talking, but they have to start talking to the PGA Tour first, and at the moment it doesn't seem that's going to happen for a while. Whether the Greg Norman factor is part of that, who knows.
"I just think it's nice the majors can make a decision like this, whereas the Tour have to protect their sponsors, field strength, all things like that.
"So I'm not sure this is any step for peace in the world of men's golf, but at least it's something, and we can at least see these guys play with each other four times this year.
"As much as LIV is a fun thing, and it's a novelty really, it's not the best players playing the best courses, 72-hole stroke play. I know it's supposed to be something different, but it doesn't quite do it for me as a purist and a golf fan.
"It's just awkward that it's caused all this, and it's obviously the lure of the money why the guys have gone.
"They can talk about the attraction of the team events and other things that have gone on, but the bottom line is it was a huge amount of money, and I won't criticise them for taking it.
"Everyone has an individual choice to make."
There are currently 16 LIV golfers eligible for the 2023 Masters, under differing criteria:
Past Champions:
Major Exemption (winning any major within the last five years):
Top 50 in the world at the end of 2022:
