Despite Stealing All the Spotlight, LIV Golf Suffers a Sharp Setback 48 Hours Before the Masters

Published 04/05/2023, 4:50 AM EDT

LIV Golf has been the talk of the town since it entered the golf world last year. And now rebranded LIV Golf League has caught more attention than ever. The defectors are not allowed back on the PGA Tour as they joined a rival Tour. But Augusta officials invited 18 LIV players to the field of Masters this year. It is an impressive achievement for the Saudi-backed circuit. However, the latest update is a setback for the Tour despite the renowned fame and support they are getting.

LIV Golf League did not see it coming

Journalist Robert Lusetich Tweeted the schedule of the featured group for Thursday at Augusta National. He asked, “What do we notice about the featured groups #themasters” The conclusions might be a shock for the supporters of the Saudi-backed Tour.

All four groups did not have any of the LIV golfers’ names on the list. This year was planned big for LIV Golf. But the wind is flowing in another direction for them. Earlier, the PGA Tour did not mention the previous winners’ names, only because they were on a rival Tour. And this update has just fueled the fire.

Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, recently disclosed that if any LIV Golf competitor wins the green jacket, they might have something truly incredible to look forward to! “There’s talk in our teams all around here. There are 18 of us LIV guys at Augusta and if one of the guys, no matter who it is, they are all going to be there on the 18th green,” stated Norman. Even Brooks Koepka supported Norman’s Masters plan. But the latest update tells another tale. Things seem a bit bleak about Norman’s Tour.

A fan replied sarcastically to the update, which entails that LIV Golf’s hard times were not over yet. He said, “– No LIV players in featured groups, and – No LIV players paired with any marquee PGA Tour players Masters: We welcome you to play but make no mistake, you are not our VIP. Govern yourself accordingly.” However, one can only make speculations until Masters begins.

How were groupings done for Masters 2023?

Most golfers around the world have the dream of getting a tee time at Augusta National. For 88 lucky golfers, doing so resulted in them being given a spot in the field of the 87th Masters. How the 18 LIV Golf League competitors competing this week would be handled by the Masters officials was a concern.

According to Golf Digest, it turns out to be the former, with all the competitors playing in threesomes with PGA Tour or DP World Tour players, including well-known professionals Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith.

Watch This Story | Despite the Soaring Controversy, Greg Norman and LIV Golf’s Masterplan for the Masters Receives a Strong Nod From Brooks Koepka

What are your thoughts about the featured group schedule? And do you think it is a major setback for LIV Golfers? Please share your views in the comments below.

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Written by:

A Commerce graduate who turned her passion into her profession, Saumya is a Golf writer at Essentially Sports. Having developed the love for the sport at a very young age, she watched Tiger Woods and caught inspiration from his legacy early on. Apart from Woods, she shares great admiration for her country's players like Vishwanathan Anand and Neeraj Chopra.

Edited by:

Akash Pandhare