Masters 2023: LIV commissioner Greg Norman snub confirmed by Masters bosses

Controversial LIV commissioner and Australian golfing legend Greg Norman won’t be at Augusta for the Masters, but was he deliberately overlooked by tournament bosses?

Masters bosses have confirmed that Greg Norman was deliberately overlooked for an invitation to this year’s tournament so the focus would remain on the golf and the players rather than the controversial LIV commissioner.

Norman, the leader of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf that has split the sport, told News Corp last week that he feared he would never receive another invitation to attend the Masters after being snubbed this year.

After confirming Norman had not been invited this year – former major winners generally receive an invitation – Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said he could not rule out a change to that stance in the future.

LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman has had his Masters snub confirmed by bosses. Picture: Mike Ehrmann / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

“We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman,” Ridley said.

“The primary issue and the driver there is that I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition, on the great players that are participating, the greatest players in the world, which, by our decision in December, we ensured that we were going to honour and be consistent with our invitation criteria.

“I would also add that, in the last 10 years, Greg Norman has only been here twice, and I believe one of those was as a commentator for Sirius Radio.

“It really was to keep the focus on the competition.”

Norman has been front and centre in the LIV debate given he is the commissioner of the rebel competition, which has been accused of sportwashing, where nations use sport to take the focus off their human rights records.The two-time major winner, who suffered heartbreak after heartbreak as a player at Augusta National, received support on Thursday morning (AEDT) from one of the men responsible for breaking his heart.

American Larry Mize chipped in at the second playoff hole to beat Norman in the 1987 Masters. Mize, making his final competitive appearance at the Masters, will play the opening two rounds alongside Australians Harrison Crowe and Min Woo Lee and said he would like to see Norman return.

“He’s got a great history here, there’s no question,” Mize said.

“Greg is a great champion. He was good for golf for so long while he was playing. Everything is going to work out in the long run, but it’s just a bit messy at the moment.”

Norman told News Corp last week that he feared he would never be welcome back at the Masters.

“It is just hard for me to fathom that much fracturing can take place,” Norman said.

“Does it hurt? The thought of it hurts absolutely. That is what the reality of life is.

“That is the decision people make. Life is too short. I am not going to pine on what those decisions are.

Norman after missing a shot in one of his heartbreaking Masters losses, in 1996. Picture: Stephen Munday/ALLSPORT

“I do what is right for myself, the jobs I have to do and the companies I own.”

After being asked by News Corp about the potential for Norman to receive a future invitation, Ridley said he could’t rule it out given the uncertainty that currently exists in the sport.

“I mean, it’s hard to answer that question because, you know, I don’t know where the world is going to be next year or two years from now,” Ridley said.

“But as I stated, I would never say never. But I told you why he had not been invited this year.

“I think that, as I said in my comments, I’ve noticed …. the tone has been really good here this week.

“I’ve noticed the players are interacting. Last night at the Champions Dinner, I would not have known that anything was going on in the world of professional golf other than the norm.

“So I think, and I’m hopeful, that this week might get people thinking in a little bit different direction and things will change.”

Ridley also addressed accusations that Augusta National was endorsing sport washing by allowing LIV players to take part in this year’s tournament.

Eighteen LIV players will take part in the Masters, concluding Open champion Cameron Smith.

“As relates to your comment about sportswashing, I certainly have a general understanding of the term,” Ridley said.

“I think, you know, it’s for others to decide exactly what that means. These were personal decisions of these players, which I, you know, at a high level, don’t necessarily agree with, but it really wasn’t intended to go beyond that.”

Originally published as Masters 2023: LIV commissioner Greg Norman snub confirmed by Masters bosses