LIV Golfers Will be Eligible to Compete in 2023 Masters Tournament, Club Chairman Determines

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: David Cannon/Getty

Augusta National Golf Clubhas made a major decision regarding the Saudi-backedLIV Golf tourplayers competing in the 2023 Masters tournament.

He went on to say the club is “disappointed in these developments,” but will “focus” on honoring “the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April.”

The statement continued: “Therefore, as invitations are sent this week, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament. As we have said in the past, we look at every aspect of the Tournament each year, and any modifications or changes to invitation criteria for future Tournaments will be announced in April.”

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Augusta National’s statement added that the club has “reached a seminal point in the history” of the sport. “At Augusta National, we have faith that golf, which has overcome many challenges through the years, will endure again.”

The 2023 Masters is scheduled for April 6-9 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Fans of the sport were left wondering how the Masters Tournament would proceed in regard to LIV Golf participants. The decision comesafter the PGA Tour suspended more than a dozen golferswho participated in the inaugural event for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour earlier this year.

In a memo, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the suspension of 17 golfers who appeared in the rivalLIV Golf Invitational Seriesin England on June 9, including former Masters winner Dustin Johnson, who resigned from the PGA to play in the Saudi-backed tour.

Dustin Johnson PGA Championship.Darren Carroll/PGA

“Simultaneous to you receiving this memo, the players are being notified that they are suspended or otherwise no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play, including the Presidents Cup,” he added.

The suspended golfers will be ineligible to appear in the Presidents Cup or other tour events. In addition, the PGA Tour will also suspend any other players who participate in LIV Golf tournaments in the future.

source: people.com