Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy launched a allure offensive forward of this week’s Masters as they flew the proverbial PGA Tour flag throughout a apply spherical at Augusta National on Monday whereas quite a lot of LIV Golf gamers additionally started their preparations.
There is a few added intrigue forward of this yr’s Masters as it will likely be the primary because the launch of the controversial LIV Golf circuit final June and can function rivals from each circuits on one of many sport’s most hallowed layouts.
Woods and McIlroy, two of golf’s largest names who’ve each been vocal opponents of LIV Golf, went out off the tenth tee below overcast skies alongside former Masters champion Fred Couples and South Korea’s Tom Kim.
The group had been cheered at each flip, with maybe the loudest once they opted to partake in a Masters practice-round custom and tried in unison to purposefully skip their balls throughout the pond on the par-three sixteenth.
There are 18 LIV Golf rivals at this yr’s Masters, together with 2020 champion Dustin Johnson, and whereas all didn’t schedule apply rounds on Monday those that did had been additionally greeted warmly by the patrons.
Former phrase primary Johnson, carrying a shirt with the emblem of the 4Aces crew he captains on LIV Golf, practised with present PGA Tour gamers Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman and Gary Woodland.
Johnson, who received the inaugural season-long LIV Golf particular person championship, was excited to reconnect along with his former PGA Tour friends and stated he doesn’t really feel any completely different being at Augusta National in comparison with years previous.
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“For me it’s the same. All my buddies are still my buddies, and we play, and it’s still golf. So it doesn’t matter where you play at,” stated Johnson.
“I still play golf for a living. I’m here at the Masters and enjoying this week. This week’s all about Augusta.”
Johnson, who has performed in every of LIV Golf’s three occasions this yr, additionally doesn’t anticipate there to be any aggressive points as he will get able to compete with PGA Tour gamers for the primary time because the British Open final July.
“I played a long time with all these guys. So if I’m playing how I should, yeah, I can — I’ll be right there at the end,” stated Johnson.