Augusta National Golf Club This year’s Masters tournament will have professionals from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in attendance, and some of the tension is expected to run high.
Seven-time PGA Tour winner Jon Rahm spoke to reporters ahead of this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions and said, despite not being invited, he thinks the Champions Dinner can be pretty uncomfortable.
Jon Rahm of Spain tees off on the 12th hole during The Open de España at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on October 7, 2021 in Madrid, Spain.
(Stuart Franklin / Getty Images)
“One thing I keep going back to, and it’s probably just funny to me,” he said Tuesday via Golf.com. “I feel Masters Champions Dinner It’s going to be a bit tense compared to what it’s been in the past.”
Georgia Man invites Masters back for PGA Tour golfer after crash
Fred Ridley, president of Augusta National Golf Club, issued a statement last month announcing plans to allow golfers who have already qualified for tournaments to be eligible to play in April.
Ridley said at the time, “Sadly, recent actions have further divided men’s professional golf by undermining the merits of the game and the meaningful legacy of those who created it.” “While we are disappointed by these developments, our focus is to honor the tradition of bringing together a core field of golfers this coming April.
Phil Mickelson attends a press conference ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Series on June 8, 2022 at Centurion Club, Hertfordshire, England.
(Steven Paston/PA via AP)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“Therefore, as invitations have been sent out this week, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament.”
The list includes Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel, all former members of the PGA Tour who defected. Rival Saudi-backed circuit.
But outside of an awkward dinner, Rahm doesn’t believe these tensions will escalate.
Jon Rahm looks down the fairway before hitting his tee shot on No. 9 during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship August 14, 2022 at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn.
(Matthew Maxi/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Click here to get the Fox News app
“I think that’s what it’s going to be,” he said. “I didn’t feel the difference in any major exam last year. If anyone has problem with liv players, they’re not going to deal with them and that’s all. In my mind, as I’ve said before, I respect their choices and with whom I was friends before, I’m still going to be friends, right? It doesn’t change the way I work with him.”
The 87th installment of Masters is going to start from 6th April.