Greg Norman may not be in attendance at Augusta National but 18 of his LIV Golf rebels will be and he undoubtedly will be watching and praying that one of them slips into the Green Jacket Sunday.
The CEO of the rebel series has revealed he has not been invited to this year’s Masters, the first since his breakaway circuit crashed on to the scene last June.
The Australian has never won the major but finished second three times, including a brutal play-off loss to Larry Mize in 1987 and the infamous collapse in 1996 when he conceded a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo.
But his two major wins – the 1986 and 1993 Open Championships – had always secured him a ticket to the event before, until now.
‘Funnily enough, I haven’t been invited,’ Norman told Telegraph Sport. ‘As a major winner I always was before, but they only sent me a grounds pass last year and nothing, zilch, this time around. I’m disappointed because it’s so petty but of course I’ll still be watching.’
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has revealed he has not been invited to The Masters this year
The 68-year-old will be watching, of course, with a particularly close eye on his LIV Golf defectors as he wills one of them to pip some of the Saudi-funded series’ biggest critics, including Rory McIlroy, to a seat in Butler Cabin.
This year’s Masters is set to be a fiery one as LIV rebels tee it up alongside PGA Tour loyalists.
Norman insisted the thought of Dustin Johnson dueling with McIlroy down the stretch on Masters Sunday would be a spectacular showdown that would be huge for the game and claimed that the golfing world has LIV to thank for it.
And, if Johnson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka or any other of LIV’s players do clinch the win, the drinks will be on Norman.
‘You could say I came within touching distance on a few occasions and I suppose it stands out as the big absence on my CV,’ Norman said.
‘That’s part of why it would mean so much to see one of our LIV family in the Butler Cabin. I would be the happiest man in the world, the first to ring and congratulate and pay for what would be an incredible party.
‘But it’s not about me it’s about the players and I’m telling you they’re not going there as individuals, but as a team, backing each other, supporting and rooting for each other. I think that gives these great players an even greater chance next Sunday.’
He also suggested that he wouldn’t be the only one rooting for a LIV star to win as he claimed the rest of the gaggle of defectors would be gathered around the 18th green ready to kickstart the party in Ryder Cup-esque scenes
He said Dustin Johnson (L) dueling with Rory McIlroy down the stretch would be good for golf
The Australian likened LIV Golf rebels gathering on the 18th green to Ryder Cup scenes
‘They’ve said that if one of them wins then the other 17 will hang around and be there to congratulate him around the 18th green,’ he said. ‘Could you imagine what a scene that would be, all these players hugging the winner. You only see things like that in the Ryder Cup, although it’s happening in our events more and more.’
Johnson is the LIV player to have last slipped into a Green Jacket back in the Autumn edition of The Masters in 2020, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American enjoyed success on the breakaway circuit during its inaugural season winning the maiden LIV Golf Team Championship with his 4 Aces and topping the earnings table by earning $35.6million from his eight events.
Koepka is the latest winner on the series, becoming the first multiple winner in LIV Golf Sunday, and could look to carry that form to Georgia with him.
Brooks Koepka is the latest winner on LIV Golf, heading into The Masters eyeing more success
Meanwhile, Smith claimed the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews last year before jumping ship and will be eyeing another major to accompany his first.
The Australian who remains in the world’s top five, is best placed to make a run at Augusta, where he has four top-10s in his past five attempts.
‘Most of us will get four cracks at it this year (in the majors), and hopefully we get a win out of it,’ said Smith.
‘Maybe we just show a really hearty effort. There’s a lot of chatter going around about, “These guys don’t play real golf anymore”. And it’s B.S. And we just want to show people that.’