The hunt for the green jacket at the Masters turns into a showdown of the feuding golf tours PGA and LIV.
18 players from the controversial Saudi Arabian-funded tour are allowed to tee off in the first major tournament of the year at Augusta National Golf Club. The PGA Tour pros Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will meet former colleagues and current LIV players Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith this Thursday – the big question is will the stars approach each other or will the fronts remain hardened?
The long-established Masters is the third major to bring players from the LIV series together with golfers who have stayed loyal to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour despite multi-million dollar offers. The LIV players are banned from the PGA Tour tournaments – but they are allowed to start in the four majors if they have qualified for them.
LIV boss Norman promises a big party
LIV boss Greg Norman has already announced a huge party at the 18th hole should one of his players win the Masters on Sunday. “I would be the happiest man in the world, the first to call and congratulate and pay for an incredible party,” he said recently.
Last year, LIV Golf attracted professionals from the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour with enormous entry fees and prize money. Among them prominent golfers like Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Smith, Mickelson, Sergio Garcia or Germany’s top golfer Martin Kaymer.
The LIV tour is criticized for the millions invested in Saudi Arabia. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events.
Superstar Woods tees off again in Augusta
Nor is Woods a fan of the Tour, which is breaking with the traditions of the sport that has made him one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. At Monday’s practice round with McIlroy, the 47-year-old impressed with powerful shots ahead of his 25th appearance, demonstrating his skills are still competitive.
Since the operations on both legs as a result of his serious car accident, stamina and condition have been the problem and the reason why he only plays very few selected tournaments. “If he didn’t have to run up and down all those hills, I’d say he’s one of the favorites. His shots are all there,” McIlroy said.
After the initially heated dispute with personal hostilities and lawsuits in court, things seem to be calming down in both camps. Some LIV players protest that the gap between players on each Tour isn’t nearly as great as some believe.
Australia’s golf star Cameron Smith stressed at the pre-Masters press conference that “there is no hatred” between the LIV players and those who have remained loyal to the PGA Tour. “It was nice to see some familiar faces,” said the British Open champion. “There was a lot of laughter and a lot of handshakes.”
Reforms on the PGA Tour for the 2024 season
Conciliatory tones can now also be heard from Northern Ireland’s golf star McIlroy, who at the beginning of the dispute had almost nothing but harsh words for the new LIV series. The presence of the new competition alone has forced the PGA Tour to reconsider its “antiquated” format. The emergence of LIV has benefited the PGA Tour. “That has led to a lot of innovation on the PGA Tour,” says the Northern Irishman.
In early March, PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan announced restructuring for the 2024 season to remain competitive in the battle with the rival LIV Tour. According to the plans for the US tour, there should be a certain number of tournaments with a limited number of participants, no cut and even higher prize money.
A similar format is played on the LIV tour: 48 professionals play for victory over three days, there is no cut. There is an individual and a team rating. The individual competition is endowed with 20 million US dollars – the winner gets four million US dollars.
Golf idol Langer at the Masters for the 40th time
One who is only marginally interested in the Tour disputes is celebrating an anniversary on the magnificent Augusta National Golf Club course. Germany’s golf legend Bernhard Langer is teeing off at the Masters for the 40th time. Thanks to his two Masters triumphs in 1985 and 1993, the now 65-year-old from Anhausen enjoys a lifelong right to start in the major tournament.
But who can slip on the green winner’s jacket on Sunday? The big favorite for the Masters title is Scottie Scheffler. The defending champion is currently the dominant player. Wherever the 26-year-old world number one from the USA tees off, he plays for victory.
Spain’s top golfers Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are also on form. Or will a player from the ranks of the LIV tour end up surprising at Magnolia Lane?