If the Masters Tournament which begins this Thursday is usually an opportunity to showcase the prestige and heritage of golf, there will be a foreign dynamic this year, since the PGA players will have to share the course with the players on the LIV Golf circuit. For golf neophytes, here is what you need to know about this file to be in the know.
The organizers want to avoid problems
“We will invite all eligible players given the criteria in place to play the Masters Tournament in 2023.”
These words are those of Fred Ridley, president of the tournament. Players on the LIV Golf circuit will officially be able to take part in the biggest tournament of the season. Ridley is fully aware of the tensions that exist in the world of professional golf. The proof ? He never names the name of the Saudi circuit, like the characters in Harry Potter to evoke you-know-who.
Ridley finds himself between the tree and the bark. On the one hand, he wants the best players in the world in the tournament, and some of them are among the dropouts. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to alienate the PGA Tour. So not promoting the Saudi circuit too much allows it to stay on the right side of the force. It remains that these new rivals will have to rub shoulders and there will certainly be sparks.
Prepare your popcorn (except for those who eat it with something other than butter).
A victory for a former champion?
“At the end of the day, golf is more important than any player or any tour. »
Louis Oosthuizen is one of the players on the LIV Golf circuit whose chances of ending up in the top group are the best. He has slowed down, yes, but he is still at the top of his game in important tournaments. He won the British Open once, but he also finished second in major tournaments six times.
PHOTO MIKE SEGAR, REUTERS
Dustin Johnson
The majority of LIV players are aging players or more or less obscure players aware of their minimal, if any, chances of winning on the PGA Tour circuit. Some players, however, might come and spoil the party. Cameron Smith tops the list. Last year, he won the British Open, in addition to finishing third at the Masters Tournament.
Former champions will also parade on Magnolia Lane in the colors of LIV Golf, such as Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Charl Scwartzel.
Other big names
“As long as you meet the tournament eligibility criteria, you should play. »
Bryson DeChambeau will be one of 16 players from the LIV circuit to be able to participate and meet the many eligibility criteria. Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch, Brooks Koepka, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, Smith and Harold Varner III are the others.
The elephant in the room
“Augusta is hard enough without thinking about all those little things. »
Players on the LIV circuit, starting with Garcia, Koepka and DeChambeau, believe there will be no tension between the players. According to them, the media and supporters make a big deal of this alleged rivalry between the two circuits.
PHOTO JONATHAN ERNST, REUTERS
Rory McIlroy
However, once again in the last few days, Rory McIlroy, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tiger Woods have once again expressed reservations about the presence of players from the LIV circuit in Grand Slam tournaments. Recently, McIlroy and Reed also had a bit of a falling out at the Dubai tournament.
Currently, the players of the Saudi circuit give the impression of having the certainty to arrive on the spot and to be welcomed with open arms. But PGA Tour players seem to be giving them a much colder reception than they expect.