Coming into the 2023 Masters, one of the most anticipated questions was how LIV golfers and PGA Tour players would act around each other.
Since the start of LIV golf last year, golf fans have wondered whether the Augusta National would invite them to play since it is controlled heavily by the PGA Tour now. The Masters leadership decided over the winter to let any LIV player who qualified (such as a past champion or a major champion) to participate this year.
On Monday, April 3, only one LIV golf player was scheduled for interviews in the media room at Augusta National Golf Club. That was Cam Smith, the reigning British Open champion.
Smith, the Australian, signed a $100 million deal with LIV in August 2022. That came as a shock to many, coming shortly after he won the Open Championship at the Old Course at St. Andrews with a 20-under-par total.
LIV features 48-man, 54-hole no-cut events, and the players are also divided into teams to give more of a Ryder Cup feel to the competition.
When Smith got to the Augusta National course on Monday to practice, he was met with lots of hugs and greetings from the PGA golfers, quickly showing everyone early that there wouldn’t be a big rivalry between the players and him.
“It was good to see some familiar faces and lots of laughs,” said Smith. “It was really nice. I wasn’t sure what to expect when walking out on the range, but it was good to see some familiar faces.”
This was the spotlight today during the Monday practice rounds as many thoughts it wouldn’t go as smoothly.
With PGA tour golfers Rory McIlroy and Freddie Couples defending the tour openly in the media, fans had no idea what was going to happen, especially Smith, whose British Open last July came at the expense of McIlroy, who was the leader after 54 holes.
With 17 total LIV golfers participating in the Masters this week, it’s not going to be easy for PGA and LIV golfers to avoid each other. This will be difficult as golfers from both leagues are projected to be towards the top.
“I think it’s important for LIV guys to be up there because I think we need it,” said Smith. “I’ll be the first one to say the (LIV) fields aren’t as strong, but we still got a lot of guys out there that can play some serious golf.”
Out of the past six Masters winners, LIV has scooped up half of them in Dustin Johnson (2020 champion), former Augusta State standout Patrick Reid (2018) Masters Champion and Spain’s Sergio Garcia (2017). The PGA Tour winners are defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama (2021) and Tiger Woods (2019).
LIV, backed by Saudi funding, has golfers who have competed and won at the highest level. Among those on the LIV circuit are three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who missed last year’s Masters after he was quoted as making derogatory comments about the Saudis.
Smith, who finished tied for third place with Shane Lowry in the Masters last year, says the LIV participants this week need to be at the top of their game. This will put added pressure on many of the LIV players.
Smith has a knack for playing well at Augusta National.
“A lot of times, I’ve come in (here) not feeling so good with my game, and it’s kind of spring-boarded me into kind of a nice rest of the season,” said Smith, who finished 10th in 2021, second in 2020 and fifth in 2018. “So, I’m kind of hoping that that happens again this year. It hasn’t really been the nicest start for me.”
His best finish in the three LIV starts this year has been sixth.
The Masters green jacket is known to many as the greatest trophy in golf, so there’s already high stakes and pressure. The personal competition between LIV and PGA tour golfers adds a new element to the tournament that has never been experienced and could potentially make it even more enjoyable to watch for golf fans.
