In a surprising turn of events, Greg Norman, the LIV Golf Chief Executive, made his presence felt at Augusta National Golf Club during the practice round of the Masters. The former Masters participant walked among the crowd and engaged with fans as he witnessed players preparing for the highly-anticipated opening round.

Norman expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received for LIV Golf, stating that not a single person questioned the establishment of the new golf circuit. He revealed that countless individuals, including security personnel, commended the platform, emphasizing its positive impact on the game of golf.

The addition of LIV Golf at this year's Masters has sparked intrigue and raised questions about the field. Out of the 89 players participating, 13 belong to the LIV circuit. However, Norman believes that this number could have been higher if LIV events were recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

Norman voiced his opinion on several LIV golfers who are enjoying successful seasons but had no pathway to Augusta National. Players like Abraham Ancer, Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen, and Talor Gooch have produced exceptional performances over the past few months, making them deserving of an invitation to the Masters according to Norman.

Fred Ridley, the chairman of Augusta National, addressed the issue by reiterating that LIV Golf currently does not meet the standards set by the OWGR. However, Ridley emphasized that the Masters would extend "special invitations" to exceptional LIV players, regardless of their world ranking. This year, one such invitation was given to Joaquín Niemann, who has experienced a decline in his world ranking but demonstrated success outside of LIV events.

Last year, 18 LIV golfers qualified for the Masters, a number that is likely to decrease annually in the absence of OWGR points. However, seven past Masters champions and three winners of other majors are also among the LIV players in the field. Only two LIV players, Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk, qualified based on their world rankings.

Ridley acknowledged that the goal is to have the best field in golf, but due to the unique structure of the Masters, it does not always include all of the world's top players. However, Ridley did not rule out considering invitations for exceptional players from various tours in the future.

Norman's presence at the Masters marked his first return since 2021 when he worked as an analyst for SiriusXM. This year, he arrived at the course with a pair of LIV executives, entering through the main gate. Sporting his trademark white straw hat and a LIV shirt, Norman walked the course, showing his support for LIV players such as Jon Rahm, Sergio García, and Patrick Reed during their practice rounds.

Despite his involvement with LIV Golf and the controversy surrounding the new circuit, Norman faced no animosity from fans or fellow golfers. He has been instrumental in revolutionizing the golf landscape and attracting several notable names away from the PGA Tour.

While there have been calls for reconciliation between different golf circuits to enable more opportunities for the world's best players to compete against each other, industry leaders anticipate that the divide will persist for the foreseeable future. The PGA Tour continues negotiations with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf's owner, regarding a potential partnership.

Norman clarified that LIV Golf operates autonomously from the PIF, and he focuses solely on delivering what was promised to the world.

With last year's Masters showcasing the strength of LIV players on the leaderboard, Norman remains confident that the best players will always rise to the top, regardless of the circuit they compete in.

As the Masters approaches, the inclusion of LIV Golf and the ongoing debate surrounding exceptional players not earning automatic invitations have added a layer of intrigue to the prestigious tournament. Golf enthusiasts eagerly await the start of the opening round, curious to see how LIV golfers fare among the established competitors at Augusta National.