Professional golf is at a tipping point. LIV Golf has created a divided sport. The PGA Tour has suspended LIV Golf members from competing in their events. This is the first offseason that the Major Championships have had time to digest what LIV Golf is to their events. The Masters is the first Major of the season. And we now know that LIV Golfers invited to The Masters. Augusta National Chairman, Fred Ridley has released the following statement: “…we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament.” Now past champions like Phil Mickleson, Dustin Johnson, and Bubba Watson will be invited, among others.
This is a pivotal decision in the world of golf. Augusta National carries a stick just as big as the USGA and the R&A. Because The Masters is the only Major held at the same venue every year, it holds a special place in the sport. There is nothing like the back-9 at Augusta on Sunday afternoon. So many careers highlights are made on that stretch of nine holes.
This is the correct decision. The Masters have an opportunity to unity the golf world. The PGA and LIV golf seem like they’re miles apart, while the USGA and R&A are there to govern the rules of golf. The Masters is the one entity that can bring all of those parties together for at least one weekend. It creates great television as well. Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau are can’t miss television. As golf fans we deserve to see them paired with the likes of Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, and Scotty Scheffler. Here are some of the LIV Golfers who got the invite to The Masters.
Phil Mickleson
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Phil is one of the most popular golfers at The Masters. The Patrons will be excited to see Lefty teeing it up again. He skipped last year’s tournament due to some of the public backlash after pro LIV comments.
Cameron Smith
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Cam Smith has been one of the best golfers on the planet over the last 24 months. A true major champion can not be crowned without him in the field.
Bubba Watson
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Bubba is a 2-time Masters Champion. For a tournament that treats their past winners better than anywhere else in the world, it is going to be great to see the Georgia Bulldog teeing it up in Augusta this Spring.
Dustin Johnson
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Dustin has been a mainstay on the leader board at Augusta National for the past decade. He set the scoring record in his 2020 win. That was in November, not in it’s traditional Spring dates. But he is still a bomber of the ball who can over power the course.
Brooks Koepka
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
This guy shows up for the Majors more so than any other player in the sports history. He plays his best golf when the lights are brightest. He has 2 top-10 finishes at The Masters with his best finish T-2 in 2019 when Tiger won.
Bryson DeChambeau
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Bryson has not had a ton of success at The Masters. But his ability to bomb the ball off the tee should give him an advantage around Augusta National. He is one of the most divisive players in the sport, but it will be nice to see him try to figure out the puzzle that is The Masters.
Patrick Reed
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
This past champion will get his invitation in the coming weeks. He is not a fan favorite though. In fact, he is one of the golfers that many fans like to root against. But in order to have a great story line there needs to be a villain. Patrick can play that role to perfection.
Charl Schwartzel
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Charl is not a guy who will compete for another Green Jacket. However, The Masters honors past champions better than any other tournament. Charl has earned the right to tee it up at The Masters every year for as long as he wants.
Joaquin Niemann
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Chilean golfer is the best South American golfer since Angle Cabrera. For this to be a worldly tournament, all corners of the globe need representation. He is one of the best golfers in the world and deserves a chance to slip on the Green Jacket.
Sergio Garcia
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
As a youngster he was tabbed as Tiger’s rival. He never lived up to that hype until the 2017 Masters. Augusta National holds a special place in Sergio’s heart. He named his daughter Azalea after the flower seen all over August National. I am glad he can take her back there every year and show her how special of a place she is named after.
