LIV players welcome at Augusta but Norman unwanted at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia : Members of LIV Golf may be welcome at Augusta National but the rebel circuit's polarising CEO Greg Norman did not get a Masters invite over concerns the Australian would be an unwanted distraction, club chairman Fred Ridley confirmed on Wednesday.

Tensions were high in the run-up to the year's first major as golfers from the feuding PGA Tour and LIV Golf headed to Georgia with battle lines drawn.

Golfers from both sides and Augusta National have done their best to defuse the rancour but Norman has fanned the flames, accusing the club of pettiness and calling on LIV players to gather en masse at the 18th hole to celebrate on Sunday should one of their group claim the coveted Green Jacket.

"We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman," said Ridley during his annual news conference ahead of the Masters opening round on Thursday.

"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.

"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."

While LIV golfers are banned from the PGA Tour, the Masters, like the other majors, has opened the door to those who qualify.

Sprinkled among the Masters field are 18 members of the LIV Tour, many back at Augusta as former champions, which comes with a lifetime exemption.

Widely considered the best player never to win the Masters, Norman has been persona non grata at many of golf's most prestigious events.

He was also not invited to attend last year's 150th anniversary celebration for the British Open,