AUGUST:
The world’s greatest golfers face each other on Thursday for the first time since the injury LIV Golf-PGA Tour split the game and make sense of the temporary calm of Augusta National to get the field.
Because of the tradition of the Masters tournament, with the famous green jacket of the winner, the uniqueness of the lack of advertising, the purity and the sense of historic importance, it may not be a surprises on both sides of the divide caused by Saudi-backed separatism. The LIV Golf League is observing an unofficial suspension.
The legal fights are still being debated and the name calling may resume next week but according to the words of those involved in the first major tournament of the year, it is not a place to argue. public in Augusta.
“I think this tournament is better than all of that,” said the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroynumber two in the world.
“It’s a story and a story, but the Masters and the four major championships sit on top of those noises, and that’s how it should be this week.”
Not everyone got the memo. Chief Executive Officer LIV Golf, Greg Normanspeaking in a pre-tournament interview the entire LIV team is ready to flock to the 18th green to celebrate the victory of one of their 18 competitors.
But it was noted that McIlroy, who was one of the biggest supporters of the PGA Tour, decided to practice on Tuesday with one of the LIV high, American Brooks Koepka.
McIlroy is swapping the top spot in golf with world number one Scottie Scheffler and Spaniard Jon Rahm and that trio is one of the favorites to win Sunday’s event. it is predicted that it will rain for four days.
“You’ve seen a very high level of consistency from us this year,” said defending champion Scheffler. “We are very close to winning many high places.”
McIlroy will complete the Grand Slam career with victory on Sunday while Rahm will become the fourth Spaniard to win at Augusta after Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
Critics may dismiss the LIV team as opting for a financial ‘retirement’ from high-profile competitions, where they have many players and experience in acquiring major titles.
Australian Cameron Smith, the British Open champion, tied for third place at Augusta last year, Koepka has won four majors with Dustin Johnson, who won the first season of the LIV, he wore the green jacket in 2020.
Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, 52, will be a surprise challenger at this stage of his career but Augusta is always open to upsets and the veterans don’t need to be reminded. in 1986, Jack Nicklaus won at age 46.
Most recently, in 2019, Tiger Woods became the second-oldest player to win the tournament, with his biggest comeback win at the age of 43.
Woods, however, is now in dire straits, with multiple injuries keeping him out of the PGA Tour and leaving him to worry about whether he will survive the next few tournaments. fourth and whether this will be his last Masters.
“I don’t know how many things I have,” said the 15-time major winner, who was in a reflective mood.
“It’s a special place and it means a lot to my heart to be able to come here and play this golf course and just cherish the memories I’ve had here.”
Previous winners Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will make the rounds on Thursday with the opening ceremony.
For those wondering which of the 88 players in the field will slide onto the green jacket at sunset on Sunday, it might be worth recalling Nicklaus’ famous photo at on the course.
“Augusta National is a golf course for young men,” he said. “And you need a lot of nerve of a young man to play.”
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