No direct path to Masters coming for LIV players, but Augusta 'may make some changes'
'We will have a thorough examination of our qualifications at the end of the year ... and we may make some changes.'
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters seemed to close the door for now on a direct path to quaification for LIV golfers, but it has opened the door to the possibility of LIV players potentially qualifying in Europe.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley responded to a question about Masters qualification that asked about creating a specific LIV Golf category and also about the DP World Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, which awards the winner a spot in the U.S. Open and Open Championship.
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No direct path to Masters coming for LIV players, but Augusta 'may make some changes' Back to video
Ridley seemed to shoot down the idea of a specific LIV Golf category, but seemed more open to the future possibility of offering a Masters spot to winners of prestigious European tour events, something currently not on offer.
The DP World Tour recently has provided specific conditions for LIV players to compete in its events.
“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,” Ridley said. “Not necessarily that, but some years we do make changes, some years we don’t.
“I think your comment about a couple of international tournaments is well-founded and that will be part of our examination.”
It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no, which likely is music to the ears of a number of LIV golfers feeling left out at the season’s first major.
The governing bodies of the U.S. Open and Open Championship recently have created a separate category for LIV players, something the Masters has not done.
“As it relates to the USGA and the R&A, they certainly act independently,” Ridley said. “We respect their decisions. We are an invitational tournament. We have historically considered special cases for invitations for international players, which is how (LIV golfer) Joaquin Niemann was invited, or why he was invited, the last couple years.”
The primary path of entry to the Masters Tournament is through a win on the PGA Tour.
“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,” Ridley said.
There are 12 LIV golfers in the Masters field this week, including seven green jacket winners.
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