THE most prestigious tournament in the golfing calendar, the Masters, returns on April 6.
LIV Golf has split the world of professional golf since it began at the Centurion Club back in June 2022.
Dustin Johnson plays from the 1st tee on the first day of the LIV Golf Invitational Series event at The Centurion ClubAFP via GETTY
Fronted by former World No.1 Golfer Greg Norman, LIV Golf is financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The Invitational Series pouched some of the biggest names on the PGA Tour.
Golfers that competed in the Saudi-funded golf league without permission were suspended by the PGA Tour.
Can LIV golfers play in the 2023 Masters?
It has been confirmed that LIV golfers will be allowed to compete at Augusta this year.
Former Green Jacket winners Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson will all be at this year’s Masters despite making the transition to LIV Golf.
In addition to the tournament’s previous winners, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith will qualify, as they have all won a major in the past five years.
Furthermore, Louis Oosthuizen, Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na, Joaquin Niemann, and Thomas Pieters will also be invited as they were in the top 50 of the final 2022 World Golf Rankings.
Former members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team and current LIV Golf players Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are not eligible to play at this moment.
What did the Masters’ organizers say about LIV involvement?
A statement from the event organisers said: “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.”