Smith the only LIV Golf player with pre-Masters news conference

31.03.2023 - 17:09 channelnewsasia.com

British Open champion Cameron Smith is the only LIV Golf player at next week's Masters who is on the pre-tournament interview schedule, according to the list provided by Augusta National Golf Club on Friday.The Australian world number five, who is one of 18 LIV Golf players in the field for the year's first major, is scheduled to be in the interview room at 3pm ET (1900 GMT) on Monday.Among the other LIV Golf players competing at the April 6-9 Masters are former champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel, though none are on the interview room schedule.Next week's Masters is the first since the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit that has divided the sport as it lured top players from the PGA Tour with huge paydays while the two sides entered an ongoing legal battle.Critics say LIV Golf, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, amounts to "sportswashing" by a nation trying to improve its reputation in the face of criticism over its human rights record.Five-time winner Tiger Woods, who has made one start on the PGA Tour this year given his limited playing schedule following a February 2021 car crash, is scheduled to be in the interview room on Tuesday at 11am ET.

Sporting player Tiger Woods Dustin Johnson Sergio Garcia Phil Mickelson Patrick Reed Cameron Smith Liv Golf Britain Australia Saudi Arabia

ADELAIDE, Australia: Golf’s rebel LIV tour is considering creating a women’s circuit and has approached American and European players who are keen to be involved, chief executive Greg Norman said Thursday.LIV Golf sparked turmoil in the sport when it launched last year with the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, luring star players away from the men’s US PGA Tour with lucrative contracts.Norman now has his eye on doing the same with the women.“That is a discussion we have internally on a regular basis,” he said in Adelaide ahead of the maiden Australian leg of the 54-hole, no-cut tour, which features 48 players in 12 teams.“I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET Tour players, Ladies European Tour. They love what our product is showcasing.“They ask all the time, ‘How can we get involved?’ We’d love to see a LIV ladies series.”But Norman is also conscious that he first needs to get the men’s version right, with the tour still finding its feet in only its second season.While the Australia event this week is a sell-out, the circuit has met resistance elsewhere from traditionalists and critics who charge that it is helping Saudi Arabia “sportswash” its human rights record.“From our perspective, last year was a beta season.

Sportswashing’s malign influence on display as LIV Golf lands in Adelaide

A t Adelaide Oval on Sunday attending an AFL match featuring the sport’s most popular team, Collingwood, Americans Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed were beaming. It is little surprise the LIV Golf trio, who share seven major titles between them, were smiling as they were photographed alongside the South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas.

LIV Golf boss Norman says 'long list' of players want to join rebel tour

LIV Golf boss Greg Norman says "a long list" of players want to join the rebel tour, as Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson on Wednesday conceded it would benefit from more depth.

Koepka extends Masters lead to four shots before rain stops play

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Brooks Koepka extended his lead at the Masters to four shots over Spain’s world No. 3 Jon Rahm on Saturday before third-round play at soggy Augusta National was suspended for the day due to heavy rain.