Augusta Nationwide chairman Fred Ridley praised the Australian Open as one of many “nice, nice championships on this planet” and a possible pathway for LIV gamers to the Masters after suggesting his match would proceed to make use of the Official World Golf Rankings as a information to invites.
LIV star Joaquin Niemann earnt a Masters “particular invitation” on the again of his win in Sydney final December having fallen from a career-high rating of 15 to 92 since his transfer to the rival tour the place he has gained twice.
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Noting that LIV withdrew its utility to acquire world rating factors for its 54-hole, no- lower occasions after some “remedial strategies” have been made, Ridley, who sits on the board of the OWGR, stated he believed it remained the “reliable determiner” of the world’s greatest gamers.
“There’s been lots of dialogue about that, and presently we do use the Official World Golf Rankings. As you understand, we’re on the board of the OWGR. We imagine that it’s a reliable determiner of who one of the best gamers within the sport are,” he stated on Wednesday.
“There’s been communication that’s been public relating to, you understand, the LIV’s utility, which subsequently was withdrawn after some remedial strategies have been made relating to pathways and entry to gamers and concern about among the elements of workforce golf.
“However I feel in our case, we’re an invitational, and we are able to alter as vital.
“I imply, a fantastic instance is that this yr Joaquin Niemann was given a particular invitation. We felt that Joaquin had not solely a fantastic report coming as much as this yr, however after his season, you understand, he went to Australia, performed very properly there, completed fourth within the Australian PGA, gained the Australian Open, one of many nice, nice championships on this planet. And we thought he was deserving of a particular invitation.
“Now, traditionally, and as said in our qualification standards, we take into account worldwide gamers for particular invites.
“However we do have a look at these yearly and I’ll say that if we felt that there have been a participant or gamers, whether or not they performed on the LIV tour or another tour who have been deserving of an invite to the Masters, than we might train that discretion with regard to particular invites.”
Providing the invitation to Niemann might open the door for extra LIV gamers to observe his path and play in Australia subsequent summer time.
There are 13 LIV gamers on the Masters this yr, down from 18 in 2023, together with seven former winners.
However solely Adrian Meronk, who gained the Australian Open in 2022, and Englishman Tyrrell Hatton certified by means of the world rankings, with others, together with Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka, exempt as current main winners and Niemann given his particular invite.