{"id":7775,"date":"2023-04-06T01:57:19","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T01:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/masters-2023-liv-golf-boss-greg-norman-absence-confirmed-by-augusta-bosses\/"},"modified":"2023-04-06T01:57:21","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T01:57:21","slug":"masters-2023-liv-golf-boss-greg-norman-absence-confirmed-by-augusta-bosses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/masters-2023-liv-golf-boss-greg-norman-absence-confirmed-by-augusta-bosses\/","title":{"rendered":"Masters 2023: LIV Golf boss Greg Norman absence confirmed by Augusta bosses"},"content":{"rendered":"


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LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman (left) has helped attract some of the world’s best talents to the Saudi-backed project, including reigning Open champion Cameron Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\n
Venue:<\/strong> Augusta National, Georgia <\/span>Date: <\/strong>6-9 April<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coverage:<\/strong> Live text commentary of all four rounds on BBC Sport website. Live radio commentary on Thursday from 20:00 BST and Friday from 21:00, on Saturday from 21:00 and Sunday from 20:00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Masters did not invite LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman to this year’s tournament because organisers want “the focus to be on the competition”. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Eighteen players from the Saudi-backed LIV, including six former winners, will play this week’s major at Augusta.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“We did not extend an invitation to Mr Norman,” said chairman Fred Ridley.<\/span><\/p>\n

With PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley being invited, Norman <\/span>told the Telegraph<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a> it was a “petty” decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Funnily enough, I haven’t been invited,” the 68-year-old added.<\/span><\/p>\n

“As a major winner I always was before, but they only sent me a grounds pass last year and nothing, zilch, this time around. I’m disappointed because it’s so petty but of course I’ll still be watching.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ridley, in his annual pre-tournament news conference on Wednesday, said: “The primary issue and driver is that I want the focus this week to be on the Masters. In the last 10 years Greg Norman has only been here twice and one of those was as a commentator.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Norman, a three-time runner-up at Augusta National in the 1980s and 1990s, has become a controversial figure in the game after fronting the LIV Golf series, which began in 2022 with eight invitational events and has started a 14-event league this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this week, he said players from the breakaway tour are planning a group celebration behind the 18th green at Augusta if one of them wins the Masters on Sunday. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Australian former world number one was also not invited to the 150th Open at St Andrews last year, despite being a two-time champion of golf’s oldest major.<\/span><\/p>\n

The R&A, which hosts the Open, suggested Norman’s involvement in the controversial LIV series would be an unwelcome distraction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Masters ‘supportive’ of shorter ball proposal<\/h3>\n

Ridley also stated that the Masters would be “supportive” of the proposal to use a ball that will not fly as far through the air in elite competitions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The balls, which will travel around 15 yards less will be used at The Open and US Open should the Model Local Rule be passed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The PGA Tour has not immediately backed the proposal, which has been criticised by criticised by equipment manufacturing company Acushnet and former world number one Justin Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have voiced their support for the idea.<\/span><\/p>\n

And Ridley said: “I think, in a general sense, we do support the proposal, but because it’s in the middle of a comment period, it could change.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“The whole purpose of the comment period is to take the input from the industry. So we will look at the final product and make a decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

“But generally we have always been supportive of the governing bodies. I’ve stated that we believe distance needs to be addressed. I think the natural conclusion is, yes, we will be supportive.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Augusta National has consistently added length to its course over the years, most notably this year on the par-five 13th. The tee has been pushed back 35 yards to make going for the green in two a trickier prospect.<\/span><\/p>\n