There will be no Shark sightings at Augusta this weekend.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman made it clear that LIV players might have something special planned should one of the breakaway tour's golfers win the Masters. If that happens Sunday, they'll have to do it without Norman.
After Norman said he wasn't invited by the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley revealed Wednesday the reason behind the lack of an invite, leaving Norman firmly planted on a couch somewhere this weekend:
BREAKING: Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley explains the decision not to invite LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to the Masters ⛳⤵️ pic.twitter.com/0Sx4iU950c
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 5, 2023
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Ridley's explanation:
We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman. I think the primary issue and the driver there is that I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition, on the great players that are participating, the greatest players in the world; which, by our decision in December, we ensured that we were going to honor and be consistent with our invitation criteria.
I would also add that in the last 10 years, Greg Norman has only been here twice, and I believe one of those was as a commentator for Sirius Radio. But it really it was to keep the focus on the competition.
Players have made it clear that there isn't exactly pro-wrestling style beef between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, while Rory McIlroy and others have said this tournament is "bigger" than the schism in golf.
Norman has never won a Masters tournament, but winners of other major golf tournaments would typically be invited as honorary guests.
Ridley's decision seemingly peeved Norman a bit. He called the decision "petty" in a recent interview.
"As a major winner I always was before, but they only sent me a grounds pass last year and nothing, zilch, this time around," Norman told Telegraph Sport (via Golf Monthly). "I'm disappointed because it's so petty but of course I'll still be watching."
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In 2022, some confusion surrounding Phil Mickelson's standing and invite to the tournament bubbled up around Ridley and the Masters. Ridley explained that Mickelson, who some thought was disinvited to the tournament because of his comments surrounding LIV Golf, actually informed the tournament that he would not play.
Mickelson's absence marked the first time in 28 years that he did not participate in the Masters. Mickelson, along with 17 other LIV Golf players, will tee it up at Augusta National come Thursday.
Meanwhile, Norman will be somewhere teed off over the lack of an invite.
