KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — This unique group of champions might be probably the most anticipated occasion of the 12 months. And it is nowhere close to the Pacific shores alongside Kapalua.
The Masters Membership is the official identify of the annual Tuesday night time dinner at Augusta Nationwide throughout the Masters in April, and the visitor record is restricted to Masters champions and president Fred Ridley.
Scottie Scheffler handles the menu because the reigning champion, and a second from final 12 months illustrates how this might be a dinner in contrast to some other.
Scheffler and his spouse took a brief trip in Tennessee, walked right into a restaurant and have been shocked to see Bubba Watson and his spouse sitting at one of many tables. Watson is a two-time Masters champion. This can be his 11th dinner.
“I informed him I might have a separate desk for him by himself within the nook,” Scheffler stated with fun. “Simply kidding, clearly.”
Even so, think about the temper this 12 months.
Augusta Nationwide, whereas not thrilled with the foremost disruption to the game attributable to the arrival of Saudi-funded LIV Golf, stated it might retain its invitational standards for the Masters.
Six former champions – Watson, Phil Mickelson, Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson – at the moment are a part of LIV Golf.
All are suspended by the PGA Tour for becoming a member of a rival league with out permission. In accordance with court docket paperwork, Mickelson had been suspended for 2 months earlier than becoming a member of LIV to recruit gamers.
They are going to be within the room with the Masters champions who didn’t take kindly to the insurgent league led by Greg Norman.
“They turned their backs on what acquired them to this place,” five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods stated in July.
In an interview final June with Golf.com, 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples stated of Mickelson, “I do not assume I am going to ever speak to him once more.”
All of the sudden, what Scheffler decides on the menu is not almost as attention-grabbing because the circulate of dinner dialog.
“It may be actually attention-grabbing, is not it?” Jordan Spieth stated. “I am very eager about Phil, very to see what he is like. I do not know who he’ll speak to, what he’ll say, if he’ll go.”
Mickelson was not among the many 31 Masters champions ultimately 12 months’s dinner. Whereas he was suspended for 2 months on the PGA Tour, it didn’t have an effect on his potential to take part within the Masters. He selected to not go, simply as he selected to not attend a Champions Dinner on the British Open on the suggestion of the R&A.
“It may be the primary time we have all seen him in a very long time in a really thrilling setting for that,” Spieth stated.
Seating, in accordance with varied gamers, is like discovering a seat in a highschool cafeteria. Avid gamers have a tendency to succeed in their consolation zone and hang around with associates. This might be an excellent time to have places.
What Jon Rahm, whose solely main is a US Open, might give to be there.
“It is most likely simply humorous to me, however I believe the Masters Dinner goes to be just a little tense in comparison with the way it’s been up to now,” Rahm stated. “So I preserve enthusiastic about it as a result of I want I might be there and simply be capable of see how issues are. Too dangerous the US Open does not have a kind of.”
Scheffler hopes it will not be too theatrical.
The Gulf has been torn aside by disruptions and lawsuits. Scheffler did not have to attend till the Masters Membership dinner to determine that out. His locker on the Sentry Event of Champions is with Cameron Smith, the defending champion who final 12 months tied a PGA Tour report at 34 beneath.
Smith was suspended for becoming a member of LIV.
“It is just a little bizarre, however golf will transfer on,” Scheffler stated. “I believe this factor simply takes time. The factor will heal and we’ll see what occurs.”
Even so, the primary LIV participant combine meet can be at Augusta Nationwide, and 6 of the 16 Masters-eligible gamers are invited to the dinner.
“I believe for just a few weeks a 12 months we will put all that apart, particularly with Augusta Nationwide being such a particular place and with the historical past of the sport,” Scheffler stated. “I believe we will put all that stuff apart and get collectively for a enjoyable meal, multi function room collectively and form of rejoice the sport of golf and Augusta Nationwide and hang around.”
Three-time champion Nick Faldo is not so certain that would be the case.
“Issues might be stated,” he stated final month on the PNC Championship. “I believe just a few of those guys are going to have a tough time not saying one thing. I might actually assume there can be an environment. There have to be an environment. There are just a few hard-nosed guys who would possibly wish to say one thing. That may liven issues up.”
As Faldo turned to depart, he smiled and stated, “May be price recording.”
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