LIV Golfers have been searching for a place at the Majors for years through OWGR points, but unfortunately they have not been awarded with these points, which makes it an impossible task for them to play at the Majors. At this year's edition of the Masters, 12 LIV Golfers will perform, a number that does not satisfy the Saudi-backed Tour's leaders.
However, two Majors, the US Open and The Open, made their path easier, enabling narrow paths for qualifications based on performances at LIV Golf.
However, the president of Augusta Nation, Fred Ridley, pointed out that they stand firmly by tradition, giving the example of Joaquin Niemann, who impressed golfers with his performances at LIV Golf.
“We are an invitational tournament. We have historically considered special cases for invitations for international players, which is how Joaquin Niemann was invited, or why he was invited, the last couple years.
We feel we can deal with that issue, whether it's a LIV player or a player on some other tour that might not otherwise be eligible for an invitation, that we can handle that with a special invitation.”- he said, as quoted by Golf Monthly.
Fred Ridley shares his views
Ridley says that the rules regarding the PGA Tour remain the same, but some fear that in the future, Masters officials will change the rules, considering the weaker competition in some PGA Tour tournaments.
Ridley admitted that he is open to changes at the end of the year. Although it is not certain that this will happen, Masters officials will carefully analyze the situation and make a final decision in the coming period.
“We think it's important to win a PGA Tour tournament, and we have for many years recognized that by granting an invitation to the winner of each tournament,” he said.
“But like we do every year, and I've said this, I think every year in this press conference, we will have a thorough examination of our qualifications at the end of the year, or after the tournament this year, and we may make some changes. Not necessarily that, but some years we do make changes, some years we don't.”
Ridley also spoke about the PGA Tour-LIV merger, stressing that it is necessary to speed up the negotiations and reach a final deal between the two warring parties. Whether it will come to that is hard to say, but the main man of the Masters believes that it is necessary for the best golfers to play in many other tournaments, not only in the 4 PGA Tour tournaments.
