Masters advice from three champions.
Even before the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League war, it was rare when the world’s best professional golfers competed in the same event. Four events – the majors – each year? Five times? Six times?
Seems it doesn’t really matter so long as the perception is that the players and bosses on each side figure a way to get along. With few exceptions, the Tour/LIV conflict is on hold – at least publicly – during the Masters this week. But after Sunday’s final round, each side will once again go their separate ways.
Understand that even before the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League war, it was rare when the world’s best professional golfers competed in the same event. So really, the top players competing against each other more times than not was more fiction that fact.
That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s in the best interests of each side to remain at odds.
Just ask Jack Nicklaus.
“The best outcome is the best players play against each other all the time,’’ said Nicklaus, the six-time Masters champion and honorary starter (with Gary Player and Tom Watson) for Thursday’s opening round. “How it’s going, I don’t know, I don’t don’t want to be privy to it. I talked to Jay (PGA Commissioner Monahan) not very long ago, and I said, ‘Jay, don’t tell me what’s going on because I don’t want to have to lie to the press and people that ask me questions.’
“If Jay thinks we’re doing fine, we’ll get there, I think we’ll get there. And I certainly hope that happens – the sooner the better.’’
Watson, a two-time Masters champion, believes the players have control over the outcome.
“What do they want to do?’’ Watson said. “We’ll see where it goes. We don’t have the information or the answers. I don’t think the PGA Tour or the LIV tour really have an answer right now.’’
For Player, “It’s very simple,’’ the three-time Masters winner said. “Anytime in any business whatsoever, not only in the golf business, there’s confrontation, it’s unhealthy. You’ve got to get together and come to a solution. If you cannot – it’s not good. The public doesn’t like it, and we as professionals don’t like it, either.’’
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