Masters officers insist Greg Norman has not obtained any form of life ban from Augusta Nationwide regardless of confirming Australia’s former world primary was not welcome at this 12 months’s event.
Key factors:
- Australian {golfing} legend Greg Norman was not invited to Augusta this 12 months, as 18 LIV Golf gamers joined the event
- Organisers mentioned Norman has solely been to Augusta twice prior to now decade, as soon as as a commentator
- Whereas Norman has been a key driver of the LIV Golf event, organisers mentioned he didn’t have a life ban at Augusta
Regardless of permitting 18 LIV Golf gamers, together with Cameron Smith, to compete on the 87th Masters, Norman as commissioner of the Saudi-backed breakaway league is persona non grata this week.
“We didn’t lengthen an invite to Mr Norman,” chairman Fred Ridley mentioned on Wednesday.
“The first subject and the motive force there may be that I need the main focus this week to be on the Masters competitors, on the good gamers which might be taking part, the best gamers on the earth, which by our resolution in December, we ensured that we have been going to honour and be in keeping with our invitation standards.
“I might additionally say that, within the final 10 years, Greg Norman has solely been right here twice and I imagine a kind of was as a commentator for Sirius Radio.”
A 3-time runner-up with 9 top-six finishes from 23 Masters, Norman final week made the unhappy confession that he felt he would by no means be allowed again at Augusta, a spot he cherishes regardless of so many heartbreaking near-misses and of which he as soon as declared: “I really like this place — it simply does not love me again”.
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However Ridley left the door open for the twin main champion to return at some point.
“It is laborious to reply that query as a result of I do not know the place the world goes to be subsequent 12 months or two years from now,” Ridley mentioned when requested if Norman would ever be welcome again.
“However I might by no means say by no means.”
The chairman identified that there had been a very good vibe on the event this week, regardless of considerations that the looks of LIV gamers might show unpopular with followers and PGA Tour stars.
“I’ve seen the tone has been actually good right here this week. I’ve seen the gamers interacting,” he mentioned.
“Final night time on the Champions Dinner, I might not have identified that something was occurring on the earth {of professional} golf apart from the norm.
“So I am hopeful that this week would possibly get folks considering somewhat totally different course and issues will change.”
Norman endured an identical snub from the R&A final 12 months when he was instructed he was not welcome on the celebrations for the a hundred and fiftieth British Open at St Andrews.
AAP
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