Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed are amongst LIV golfers who will probably be eligible to play at The Masters in 2023

LIV golfers will probably be allowed to compete in The Masters in 2023, organisers at Augusta National have confirmed.

Despite the fracture within the sport caused by LIV Golf, the event organisers say their final focus is to deliver collectively “a pre-eminent field of golfers” and they’ll invite gamers who’re eligible underneath their present standards.

It means earlier champions equivalent to Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Phil Mickelson will probably be at The Masters in April, which will probably be proven stay on Sky Sports.

Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are among the many LIV gamers who may even qualify because of successful a serious prior to now 5 years.

Phil Mickelson in motion on the LIV Golf Team Championship-Miami (Associated Press)

R&A chief govt Martin Slumbers mentioned in July that banning LIV gamers from subsequent yr’s Open was “not on the agenda”, however didn’t rule out altering the championship’s entry standards.

Masters chairman Fred Ridley took the same stance on Tuesday, saying in a press release that the entry standards for 2023 would stay the identical, with any doable future modifications introduced in April.

In a press release, Ridley mentioned: “From its inception in 1934, the purpose of the Masters Tournament has been to benefit the game of golf. Each April, the Masters assembles the world’s leading golfers to compete for the Green Jacket and a place in history. It provides a stage for fans to experience dramatic moments of competition at the highest level and promotes the sport domestically and abroad.

“Through the years, legends of the sport have competed and received at Augusta National Golf Club. Champions like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have grow to be heroes to golfers of all ages. They have impressed some to observe of their footsteps and so many others to play and benefit from the recreation. They have supported the game and, thus, all who profit from it. They have proven respect for many who got here earlier than them and blazed a path for future generations. Golf is healthier due to them.

Cameron Smith is one other high participant who joined LIV (Associated Press)

“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 honour the tradition of bringing together a pre-eminent field of golfers this coming April.

“Therefore, as invites are despatched this week, we are going to invite these eligible underneath our present standards to compete within the 2023 Masters Tournament. As we’ve got mentioned prior to now, we take a look at each side of the Tournament annually, and any modifications or modifications to invitation standards for future Tournaments will probably be introduced 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.”

Davies: It’s a great factor we are going to see one of the best gamers taking part in collectively | ‘Not but a step for peace’

Four-time main champion and Sky Sports Golf analyst Dame Laura Davies…

“Well I suppose basically I’m pleased because it means we’ll get to see the best players in the world playing together, albeit this has been caused by the new Saudi league, which has caused a rift in men’s golf.

“It’s unlucky, as a result of all of the golf followers need, and I think about myself a golf fan, is to see one of the best gamers taking part in collectively.

“The fact Augusta is doing it, and we know The Open will be doing the same, I think the majors are a standalone event, and those tournaments make their own decisions.

“Personally, I believe it is a good factor we will see all the perfect gamers on the planet taking part in at Augusta in April.

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Following the announcement that LIV golfers will probably be allowed to compete at The Masters in 2023, Dame Laura Davies says she thinks the choice is a ‘good factor’

“I think there’s a long way to go [before there is harmony between rivalling tours in the men’s game]. There are thoughts that if [LIV CEO] Greg Norman stepped aside it might make things a bit easier.

“There’s a whole lot of speaking, however they’ve to start out speaking to the PGA Tour first, and in the intervening time it would not appear that is going to occur for some time. Whether the Greg Norman issue is a part of that, who is aware of.

“I just think it’s nice the majors can make a decision like this, whereas the Tour have to protect their sponsors, field strength, all things like that.

“So I’m undecided that is any step for peace on the planet of males’s golf, however a minimum of it is one thing, and we are able to a minimum of see these guys play with one another 4 instances this yr.

“As much as LIV is a fun thing, and it’s a novelty really, it’s not the best players playing the best courses, 72-hole stroke play. I know it’s supposed to be something different, but it doesn’t quite do it for me as a purist and a golf fan.

“It’s simply awkward that it is brought on all this, and it is clearly the lure of the cash why the blokes have gone.

“They can talk about the attraction of the team events and other things that have gone on, but the bottom line is it was a huge amount of money, and I won’t criticise them for taking it.

“Everyone has a person option to make.”

Who is eligible?

There are currently 16 LIV golfers eligible for the 2023 Masters, under differing criteria:

Past Champions:

• Dustin Johnson
• Patrick Reed
• Phil Mickelson
• Bubba Watson
• Sergio García
• Charl Schwartzel

Major Exemption (winning any major within the last five years):

• Cam Smith
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Brooks Koepka

Top 50 in the world at the end of 2022:

• Talor Gooch
• Kevin Na
• Joaquin Niemann
• Jason Kokrak
• Louis Oosthuizen
• Harold Varner III
• Abraham Ancer

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