CONFIRMED: Masters to allow LIV Golf players in 2023 but hint at TROUBLE ahead
LIV Golf players will be free to play the 2023 Masters, according to a statement released by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.
Tournament organisers of The Masters have hinted LIV Golf players may still yet be banned from the major in the future as they confirmed those eligible under the current criteria will be able to tee it up next April at Augusta National.
A statement was released on Tuesday confirming those already qualified will not be prevented from competing in the tradition like no other in 2023.
Invitations for next year's Masters were sent out today. The decision affects 16 players who have signed for the breakaway tour, commissioned by Greg Norman.
Players such as Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch, Dustin Johnson, Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na, Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka will be in the field.
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Bryson DeChambeau - who has fallen outside of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking - will be able to play owing to his exemption from winning the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.
Phil Mickelson will now be expected to make his return to Augusta.
Mickelson skipped the 86th Masters due to the negative publicity he was receiving in the wake of signing a $200m deal with LIV Golf.
The other affected players are Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Patrick Reed.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley was coy on the subject when he gave his annual media conference last year.
Ridley has since been accused in court documents of attempting to persuade players not to join LIV Golf.
The news comes after R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers confirmed LIV players will be allowed to participate in The Open next summer.
In the statement, tournament organisers have expressed their unhappiness with the LIV players, suggesting the actions of those who have joined the breakaway tour have:
Augusta National have also confirmed that any changes or modifications to the qualifying criteria will be announced next April.
Read the full statement from Augusta National here:
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The statement continued:
Next page: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV Golf
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