Why can LIV golfers play in the 2023 Masters? Exploring the criteria and why 18 members of LIV Golf will be allowed to take part at Augusta National this weekend.
The first major championship of the year is almost here. This weekend, the world’s best golfers will take to Augusta National for the 2023 Masters, arguably the most prestigious event on the golf calendar.
The world of professional golf has seen a civil war of sorts in recent times with the emergence of LIV Golf, funded by the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
A number of top golfers have defected from the PGA Tour to the controversial league, including the likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka.
Why can LIV golfers play in The Masters?
The question on a lot of fans lips heading into the week is ‘why can LIV golfers play in The Masters.’ LIV is the PGA Tour’s top competitor and LIV golfers are barred from PGA Tour events
However, importantly, the Masters is a major and not a PGA Tour event, so the PGA Tour has no jurisdiction over who plays at the event or how the tournament is run.
That means that whoever is banned by the tour at normal events is ultimately free to play at Augusta National, as well as the other Majors, The Open, US Open and PGA Championship.
Furthermore, The Masters gives previous winners automatic inclusion into the tournament, should they wish. There are six LIV golfers who have previously won the Masters (Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel), meaning they were also going to be invited to play regardless of the PGA/LIV split.
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LIV golfers got clearance to play at the 2023 Masters last year
LIV golfers got clearance to enter the 2023 Masters last year.
August National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley extended invitations to LIV golfers.
“We will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament,” Ridley said in a statement, via The Palm Beach Post. “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.”
18 LIV golfers will be playing at The Masters this year
LIV golfers who have won a major in the last five years or ranked top 50 in the last year’s final world golf rankings are eligible to play at the 2023 Masters.
Former European Ryder Cup members and current LIV Golf players Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are therefore not eligible to play this year.
There are a total of 18 LIV golfers who will be playing at the 2023 Masters. They are: Phil Mickelson, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Mito Peirera, Joaquin Niemann, Abe Ancer, Thomas Pieters, Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na, and Louis Oosthuizen.
In other news, Here’s why LIV golfers can play in the 2023 Masters
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