There is some added intrigue ahead of this
year's Masters as it will be the first since the launch of the
controversial LIV Golf circuit last June and will feature
competitors from both circuits on one of the game's most
hallowed layouts.
Woods and McIlroy, two of golf's biggest names who have both
been vocal opponents of LIV Golf, went out off the 10th tee
under overcast skies alongside former Masters champion Fred
Couples and South Korea's Tom Kim.
The group were cheered at every turn, with perhaps the loudest
when they opted to partake in a Masters practice-round tradition
and tried in unison to purposefully skip their balls across the
pond at the par-three 16th.
There are 18 LIV Golf competitors at this year's Masters,
including 2020 champion Dustin Johnson, and while all did not
schedule practice rounds on Monday those who did were also
greeted warmly by the patrons.
Former word number one Johnson, wearing a shirt with the logo of
the 4Aces team he captains on LIV Golf, practised with current
PGA Tour players Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman and Gary Woodland.
Johnson, who won the inaugural season-long LIV Golf individual
championship, was excited to reconnect with his former PGA Tour
peers and said he does not feel any different being at Augusta
National compared to years past.
"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," said 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 played in each of LIV Golf's three events this
year, also does not expect there to be any competitive issues as
he gets ready to compete with PGA Tour players for the first
time since the British Open last 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," said
Johnson.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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