Jon Rahm went from carrying a Masters green jacket in April to a LIV Golf black letterman’s jacket in December.Those two photographs — one in Butler Cabin with Scottie Scheffler, the different in a New York studio with Greg Norman — illustrate the great divide in golf that has scattered the sport’s greatest stars throughout two tours. The rival circuits aren’t pitted in opposition to one another, and therein lies the drawback going through golf: They’re by no means collectively.That’s what makes the Masters really feel larger than ever.It already is the most anticipated match of any yr as a result of of Augusta National and all the historical past and recollections it has created over 90 years. One year after the PGA Tour and LIV first mixed at the Masters, it now appears like a reunion long overdue.“The first time there was that split, this war between the tours,” Xander Schauffele stated. “It introduced a lot of eyeballs as a result of of that — type of LIV versus the PGA Tour type of factor. … I feel the tone could be completely different from a fan’s perspective.
“But I think it will still be great viewing,” he stated. “One, it’s the Masters. And two, I think everybody is just probably excited to see everyone compete again.”
When the first tee shot in the 88th Masters Tournament is struck on April 11, it will likely be the first time in 263 days that every one the world’s best players shall be chasing the same prize.Rahm and Scheffler. Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy. Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth. Even growing older stars Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Savor these moments, as a result of there doesn’t appear to be peace in the fast future.The PGA Tour invited the Saudi backers of LIV Golf to the desk in a stunning agreement final June to change into industrial companions.But then Congress received concerned. The Justice Department had antitrust considerations. The tour started receiving affords from U.S. personal equity teams. As the tour narrowed its record of suitors, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia flexed its financial muscle by luring away Rahm with an offer believed to be in the neighborhood of the tour’s total prize fund for the yr.
The PGA Tour tour now has a $3 billion investment from a consortium of billionaire sports owners in the U.S., all whereas nonetheless negotiating with the Saudis. A month earlier than the Masters, Woods, Spieth and the rest of the player-directors on the PGA Tour board met for the first time with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor who refers to LIV as his “baby.LIV doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, and there is no consensus on how to bring LIV players back into the fold, if they even want to come back.“We can’t keep going this direction,” Bryson DeChambeau stated. “It’s great to have the majors where we all come together, but we want to be competing — at least I want to be competing — every week with all of the best players in the world.”The closest the two tours have been to one another was early February — about 300 miles (480 kilometers) separated the Phoenix Open from LIV Golf Las Vegas. Otherwise, they really feel galaxies aside.For now, the boundaries solely vanish at the 4 majors. That begins with the Masters.
“That’s what is making this Masters and many other majors so much fun — not only for me and for players, but for spectators — is for all of us to be able to play together again and showcase what we’re capable of,” Rahm stated.The show begins with Scheffler, the undisputed No. 1 in the world even with LIV gamers plunging in the rating as a result of their league doesn’t get factors.His tee-to-green statistics are amongst the greatest since the peak years of Woods. And then Scheffler received the putter going and he gained in opposition to two of the strongest fields in consecutive weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. His most up-to-date begin was a runner-up finish in the Houston Open.Rahm has been watching — that’s about all he can do. And the Masters supplies an enviornment for him to have a say about that.“I’m fully aware of where Scottie is,” Rahm stated. “I don’t need to be playing next to him to know what’s going on. Anytime you’re doing the history he’s been able to do, it’s quite impressive.”
The solely historical past that issues to McIlroy is becoming a member of the most unique membership in golf. Only 5 gamers have gained the 4 skilled majors relationship to the inception of the Masters in 1934. Woods was the most up-to-date in 2000, and he received it finished at the British Open on his first attempt.Of the different 4 gamers with the profession Grand Slam, no one waited longer than three years to get the final leg. McIlroy goes on his tenth yr, and it’s been that long — 10 years — since he gained any main championship.“I’m under no illusion that the clock is ticking and it has been 10 years since I’ve won one of them,” McIlroy stated. “I just need to keep putting myself in those positions, and sooner or later it’s going to happen.”This is his sixteenth Masters. Only one participant — Sergio Garcia — has performed the Masters more typically earlier than lastly successful. Garcia gained his inexperienced jacket in his nineteenth try.
McIlroy won in Dubai at the begin of the yr, although his PGA Tour efficiency has been mediocre by his requirements. He has been at the forefront of this disruption in golf, going from one of LIV’s loudest critics to resigning from the PGA Tour board and now pushing as exhausting as anybody for golf to search out concord, even when meaning bringing back LIV gamers with out penalty.Woods has been the strongest and steadiest opposition to LIV Golf, and now the greatest title in the sport is lending his voice by getting an unlimited term on the PGA Tour board. He additionally was behind a change that offers gamers a majority on the board.As for golf? That stays a thriller, because it has for the final 5 years since he capped that outstanding comeback from 4 back surgical procedures by successful a fifth inexperienced jacket and his fifteenth main. Woods had ankle surgical procedure after final yr’s Masters and is strolling higher. His formidable goal was to play as soon as a month by means of the main championship season.That hasn’t gone to plan, not even close. Woods has performed solely 24 holes in a single match this yr, withdrawing after six holes of the second round at Riviera with the flu.There stays a curiosity about the divide and how they carry out. Rahm has performed solely 5 instances since November main up to the Masters. Is that enough? What does assured money do for motivation?Those questions may need been answered final yr. Koepka was runner-up at the Masters together with Mickelson. Patrick Reed was one other shot behind. Koepka gained the PGA Championship. Cameron Smith was fourth at the U.S. Open.“This has kind of been my time,” Koepka stated as he goes after a sixth main since 2017.And now it’s everybody’s time to get on the same golf course, in the same clubhouse, on the same vary chasing the same prize, with no emphasis on money. That doesn’t occur fairly often nowadays.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf