Augusta chair Fred Ridley: Greg Norman wasn't invited to Masters to limit LIV Golf distractions
Augusta National Golf Club chair Fred Ridley confirmed LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman was not invited to attend the Masters in an attempt to limit distractions about the Saudi-funded league that has lured away dozens of PGA Tour members.
"We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman," Ridley said Wednesday during a news conference. "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 honor and be consistent with our invitation criteria."
In December 2022, Augusta National issued a statement in which it made clear that all players eligible to receive invitations under current criteria, including LIV Golf players, would be offered the chance to compete in the Masters.
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As golf's prized major is set to begin, 18 LIV golfers have accepted invitations to the Masters, including six past winners who were present at Tuesday night's Champions Dinner. The decision has been criticized from many who feel Augusta National is offering legitimacy to LIV Golf and supporting the Saudi government, which has a track record of human rights violations.
Norman, a retired golfer who was a three-time runner-up at the Masters, had criticized Augusta National's decision to not extend him an invitation to the Masters in an interview with the Telegraph that published on Sunday.
"Funnily enough, I haven't been invited," Norman told the Telegraph. "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."
Ridley said Norman had attended the Masters only twice in the last 10 years, including one time in which he served as an analyst for Sirius XM Radio. Tensions between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf remain simmering over an antitrust lawsuit LIV Golf filed in August, but Ridley was noncommittal about Norman being prohibited from future Masters.
"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."