２３年マスターズはリブ選手も出場可能、オーガスタが基準維持

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】男子ゴルフ米国ツアーの四大メジャーの一つ、マスターズ・トーナメントを主催するオーガスタ・ナショナル・ゴルフクラブのフレッド・リドリー会長は２０日、２０２３年大会の出場者については「現在の基準」を維持すると話し、リブゴルフ・インビテーショナルシリーズへ移った選手の出場が認められることになった。（写真はオーガスタ・ナショナル・ゴルフクラブのフレッド・リドリー会長）
　ゴルフ界では、リブゴルフが記録的な賞金を用意して米ツアーのトップ選手を引き抜いたことで、両陣営の間に溝が生まれている。
　リドリー会長は、サウジアラビアが後援する新シリーズの名前は出さずにそのことを嘆き、「残念ながら、最近の動きによって、ゴルフの美しさとこれまで築いてきた意義深い財産が損なわれ、男子プロゴルフ界が分断されている」とした上で、「この展開に失望してはいるが、われわれの関心は、来る４月も並外れた選手の集結という伝統を尊重することにある」とコメントした。
　「それゆえ今週招待状を送るにあたり、２０２３年のマスターズ・トーナメント出場については現在の基準に基づいて、資格を有する選手を招待する」
　現時点で２０２３年大会の出場資格を持つ７８人のうち、リブゴルフに参戦した選手は１６人。その中には優勝３回の実績を持つフィル・ミケルソンも含まれる。
　リブゴルフへ移籍した過去の優勝選手では、他にダスティン・ジョンソンやパトリック・リード、バッバ・ワトソンの米国勢、スペインのセルヒオ・ガルシア、南アフリカのシャール・シュワーツェルも次回大会の出場資格がある。
　他には昨シーズンの全英オープン覇者で世界ランキング３位のキャメロン・スミス（オーストラリア）も、現在の基準では出場できるリブゴルフの選手で、米国のブライソン・デシャンボーとブルックス・ケプカも、過去５年のメジャー制覇という条件を満たしている。
　デシャンボーは米放送局ゴルフ・チャンネルに対して、「彼らが正しい決断を下したと信じている」と喜び、「今回のマスターズは、ここしばらくのマスターズの中でも最高にエキサイティングな大会になるだろう」と話した。
　選手の中には、ゴルフ界をばらばらにした分断に厳しい感情を抱いている者もいるが、今回の判断によって、来年のマスターズでは米ツアーの選手とリブゴルフの選手が同組になる可能性も生じた。そのため４月６日から９日に行われる大会では、米ツアーとリブゴルフの対立が大きな焦点になるとみられる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/12/26-11:46）

LIV Golf League players will be able to compete in next year's Masters after Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said Tuesday the event will keep current criteria for 2023 entrants.
Without mentioning the Saudi-backed upstart series by name, Ridley expressed disappointment with golf's ongoing divide caused by LIV luring away top PGA Tour talent with record prize money for 54-hole events.
Regrettably, recent actions have divided men's professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it, Ridley said.
Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honor the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April.
Therefore, as invitations are sent this week, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters tournament.
Of 78 players currently qualified for the 2023 Masters, 16 are LIV Golf members.
Six former Masters champions playing on the LIV circuit are set for next year's first major golf showdown at the historic venue.
They include Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner and six-time major champion who was the first top player to push LIV Golf forward.
Other past Masters winners in LIV Golf eligible to return in 2023 include fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson plus Spaniard Sergio Garcia and South African Charl Schwartzel.
World number three Cameron Smith of Australia, the reigning British Open champion, is also among other LIV players who have qualified under the current criteria.
Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka qualify based on major triumphs within the past five years and Chile's Joaquin Niemann has also locked up a spot.
I believe they made the right decision, DeChambeau told The Golf Channel. This Masters will be one of the most exciting Masters in many years.
The decision will bring the PGA-LIV split into sharp focus from April 6-9 at Augusta National, where stars from the rival circuits could be paired with one another, some with hard feelings over the divide that has fractured the sport.
World number one Rory McIlroy and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods have been among the most outspoken LIV critics.
LIV players in this year's final world golf rankings top 50 will also qualify for the Masters. That should seal Augusta tee times for South African Louis Oosthuizen, Mexico's Abraham Ancer and Americans Kevin Na, Jason Kokrak, Talor Gooch and Harold Varner.
- Protest threatened -
Other LIV Golf players can qualify by reaching the world golf rankings top 50 in the week before next year's Masters.
The PGA Tour has banned LIV Golf players from its events. LIV players have competed in DP World Tour and Asian Tour events where they can pick up ranking points.
LIV Golf tournaments have not been granted Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. LIV is fighting the situation but its top players could slide down the rankings and miss qualifying criteria of future majors.
Ridley said any future changes to Masters entry criteria would be revealed in April.
LIV Golf talent was allowed to compete in last year's US and British Opens following the launch of the series, which received criticism over Saudi Arabian human rights issues.
We have reached a seminal point in the history of our sport, Ridley said. At Augusta National, we have faith that golf, which has overcome many challenges through the years, will endure again.
A protest is already in the works by 9/11 Families United, a relatives group of those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. Members protested at LIV events this year.
We are calling on Augusta National to reconsider their open-door policy to the LIV golfers, a statement from the group said.
If they are welcomed with open arms, we will be at their front door to protest in April.