Eligible LIV Golfers to play Masters

Cameron Smith – one of several golfers no doubt relieved by the overnight news

The news overnight that Augusta National Golf Club has agreed to their existing qualifying criteria for the 2023 Masters applying to all golfers irrespective of their allegiance to LIV Golf or otherwise will be a great Xmas present to Cameron Smith and the others who have aligned themselves with the Saudi backed series provided of course they fit within the qualifying guidelines.

Liv Golf members such as Smith, Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Bryson De Chambeau, Charl Schwartzel and several others have all qualified through various means and the much awaited announcement today means all will tee it up at Augusta National in April.

Smith gains access through many different qualifying criteria including his world ranking (3), that he is the Open Champion and that he finished 3rd in the event last year and so gets the chance to go one better then his runner-up finish to Dustin Johnson in 2020 and add a second major to his rapidly growing CV.

Chairman Fed Ridley’s announcement released overnight reads as follows

December 20, 2022

STATEMENT REGARDING THE 2023 MASTERS TOURNAMENT

“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 honor the tradition of bringing together a preeminent 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.”