LIV golfers get warm welcome from PGA rivals at US Masters
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Cameron Smith (right) talking with his caddie Sam Pinfold at the practice area ahead of the Masters at Augusta National.
PHOTO: AFP
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AUGUSTA – Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith and two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson were among LIV Golf players receiving a warm welcome from their PGA Tour rivals at Monday’s first practice for the 87th Masters.
Fears of a tense showdown
“Lots of laughs, lots of handshakes and it was really nice,” Smith said.
“I really wasn’t sure what I was going to expect walking onto the range but it was good to see some familiar faces and lot of smiles.”
The Australian said the reception was important for the sport.
“There’s too much rubbish going on. I don’t think there’s any kind of hatred going on between the players,” he said. “We’re all happy where we are and I’m just as happy for the guys winning on the PGA Tour as I am for LIV golfers.”
He did admit that he sometimes longs to play PGA events he is now banned from entering.
Said Smith: “I do miss certain tournaments, certain golf courses... But, at the same time, I’ve made my bed and I’m happy, very happy where I am...
“I’m looking forward to this week playing against the guys, for sure. But I don’t know if I necessarily miss playing against any certain guys.”
Johnson, the 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters winner who took LIV’s 2022 individual crown,
“It’s nice to see a lot of the guys because I haven’t seen them all that much,” Johnson said.
“For me, it’s the same. All my buddies are still my buddies and we play and it’s still golf. So it doesn’t matter where you play at.”
Harman is not one for LIV-PGA grudges, saying: “I’ve got too much to worry about. I just stay in my lane.”
Johnson said his preparation has not been compromised playing 54-hole LIV events.
“I’m going to be ready no matter how many events I played,” he said.
“I played a long time with all these guys. If I’m playing how I should, I’ll be right there at the end.”
Ancer, who won February’s 72-hole Saudi Invitational, was happy, too.
He said: “It has been great. Everybody has been really nice. I’m not a high drama guy. I get along with everybody. It’s just golf. We’re all good friends.”
LIV’s Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, said he was hugged by top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler and the reception from players was “unbelievable”.
“The fans were awesome,” he added. “They were saying the same stuff they would say if I was on the other side.”
American Kevin Na defended LIV and the spicy rivalry.
“It doesn’t matter what tour you play. There are a lot of champion golfers on LIV, still in their prime and still peaking,” said Na.
“Fans and the media are making it more interesting. If you have a LIV versus PGA Tour coming down the stretch, it’ll be fun.”
Scheffler could become only the fourth player to win the Masters in back-to-back years, joining countrymen Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, and England’s Nick Faldo.
The second-ranked Rory McIlroy, a four-time Major winner from Northern Ireland, would complete a career Grand Slam with a victory, joining Woods, Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as a champion at all four Majors.
McIlroy and Spain’s third-ranked Jon Rahm, who has won three PGA Tour titles in 2023, could each overtake Scheffler atop the rankings with a victory at Augusta National.
Woods, the 15-time Major winner still struggling with severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash, played a practice round with McIlroy, Fred Couples and South Korean Tom Kim.
“I think he’ll be fine,” Couples said of Woods. “He’s hitting it really strong and solid and he looks good.
“The leg, I don’t know how much better it’s ever going to get... But he’s strong enough to hit it a mile.”
An Augusta National layout soaked by rain in the past week is expected to get drenched by thunderstorms on Thursday, with more rain from Friday through Sunday.
REUTERS, AFP
