Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said a surge in the percentage of international players competing in the Masters in recent years was the inspiration to award the winners of the Australian Open and five other national opens a spot into the April major in the future.
The Australian Open has been given an enormous boost by being named as one of a handful of national championships that will award the champion an invitation to the Masters, after a bombshell announcement by Augusta National and the R&A.
There was plenty of big news from Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley’s press conference on the eve of the 89th Masters, many of which he brought up before any questions were asked by those packed into the media interview room.
Augusta National Golf Club has extended a special invitation to LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann, as well as Ryo Hisatsune and Thorbjorn Olesen, to the 2024 Masters tournament.
Angel Cabrera’s name is not on the Masters list of invitees for this year’s tournament, but he is listed under a heading that reads “past champions not playing”. According to Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, however, that doesn’t mean that Cabrera isn’t able to compete in April.
Based on the responses to questions about the status of LIV golfers in major championships put to Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley and R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers on Thursday in Australia, it does not appear LIV members will be given a special category into the Masters and Open Championship in 2024.
Augusta National Golf Club and the R&A released statements Tuesday regarding the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, calling the deal a “positive development” for the game.