AUGUSTA (Ga.) — Greg Norman has learned many valuable life lessons by the age of 68. One such lesson is the danger of planning Augusta National victory parties too early. Yet, the Great White Pilot Fish is eagerly anticipating the Masters celebrations. Any potential festivities aren’t dependent on Norman closing. However, it’s possible they will happen. But he won’t be joining because in these precincts, he’s about as welcome to the Masters as diarrhea in space suits.
18 players are from LIV Golf, Norman’s Saudi-funded breakaway tour. The 88-man field at 87th Masters includes LIV Golf’s Saudi-funded breakaway tour. Six of them are former champions. The majority of the 12 remaining players, and some of them, would consider this week’s win to be their crowning achievement. It is possible to wonder if any of them are concerned to learn that their CEO plans to make their achievement less valuable by using it as a weapon in his ongoing fight with the PGA Tour and the establishment of golf.
Norman stated in an interview with NewsCorp that if a LIV player wins, then all 17 of his fellow travelers would be waiting behind the last green to make a statement.
He said, “No matter who it may be, they all going to have there on the 18th Green, they all going to have there, and that just gives us goosebumps to think of,” and he expressed admirable faith that his foot soldiers would still be in town. “To have those 17 guys there, that is the spirit we want.”
Norman’s unimpeachable authority about the power of goosebumps Sunday at the Masters is not enough to discredit the “spirit” that he portrays as camaraderie. However, it could also be seen in churlish grandstanding. He wants to make a product better than his product. It could happen.
The first Masters to be held in professional golf is at LIV. This means that only a fifth of the field will be LIV players. There are good odds that at least one will have a great week and make it into contention for a green jacket. Someone like Dustin Johnson, , who won the pandemic delayed edition in November 2020.
He said Monday, “If I play the way I should, then I’ll be right at the finish.”
Johnson finished 7th at Orange County National’s Crooked Cat Course in Orlando. This layout is widely considered to be one of the worst in an area that doesn’t have many. Brooks Koepka won the 54-hole event. Brooks Koepka has performed well at Augusta National before and is a real threat to repeat that feat. Cameron Smith, the Open champion, has two top-three finishes here. We might even get a bulletin from Joaquin Niemann who claimed that anti-LIV players are driving his team to prove a point. In his case, this would be any finish other than his career-best tie of 23rd in major.
The Green Jacket winner on Sunday will be the deserving winner. But is it a popular one? But that’s not always the case.
Augusta National’s members don’t view LIV players as an enhancement to their tournament. Many a competitor has had a sleepless night prior to the Masters final round. However, Patrick Reed will be within striking distance of a second title at Saturday’s end. Green jackets will also have trouble clutching rosary beads and karmic charms.
It is disconcerting to see a victorious LIV player’s triumph reduced to a prop in Norman’s flailing sideshow. It wouldn’t be the first instance of a Masters champion seeing his moment reduced by the flaxen-haired finger puppet. Nick Faldo and Larry Mize were both given less because Norman took victory when it seemed certain.
Greg Norman, who openly hopes for a hollow victory in LIV from another man achieving his lifelong dream, and that he is hating through others, should be reason enough to believe that he will experience one last Masters defeat.
