LIV Golf, the professional men’s tour that broke away from the PGA Tour in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, looks set to make its mark at the 2021 Masters golf tournament this week. With Mickelson, Watson, Johnson, Garcia, Reed and Schwartzel among the 48-man strong contingent, it’s clear that LIV is dedicated to challenging the notion of what real golf is and its players aim to marvel at the Masters and capture their first major title.
Cam Smith, a joint second place finisher at the Masters event in the past, is one of the players in the heart of the LIV ambition. “It’s just important for LIV guys to be up there,” the 29-year-old said. “I think there’s a lot of chatter about these guys don’t play real golf; these guys don’t play real golf courses,”
His inspiring words have been echoed by the likes of LIV majority owner Greg Norman, who stated that if one of their players wins the Green Jacket on Sunday, “all will hang around and be there to congratulate him around the 18th green”. Plans to challenge the narrative of the sport only grew stronger after former US Open champion Brooks Koepka won their most recent event in Orlando and agreed with Norman’s claim.
LIV is an organisation founded in 2020 and is committed to disrupting the professional golf scene and engaging with the younger generation. Led by legendary golfer and businessman Greg Norman, LIV Golf challenges the notion of what “real golf” is by showing that it is not necessary to be affiliated with the PGA Tour to play competitive golf. With the innovative no-cut, 54-hole format of their events, the tour aims to give players the best opportunity to show their golf skills and create compelling stories on the course.
The PGA Tour, which does not allow its players to compete in LIV events, has held a hostile attitude towards the organisation. Despite this, LIV players have shown that time and time again, they can live up to the challenge in the same manner as PGA Tour players. With the opportunity to make a statement on the biggest stage in professional golf, the spotlight this week will be on LIV Golf players as they try to make history and become the first to capture a major title.
