Limited preparation concern for LIV Golfers ahead of Augusta National
Cam Smith’s lack of suitable tournament play ahead of the Masters a concern – photo LIV Golf
This week’s LIV Golf event at Orange Country National in Orlando provides a much-needed opportunity for ‘time in the middle’ for those golfers scheduled to play next week’s Masters but without comparative lack of tournament play in 2023 to those not LIV golfers.
In all, 17 players who are signed to LIV Golf are eligible for the Masters and all are expected to tee it up at this week’s event hoping to get some last minute preparation for the first major of 2023.
Heading into last year’s Masters tournament where he finished 3rd, Cameron Smith had played five tournaments I preparation but in 2023 Smith has played just three the first of those coming in late February in Saudi Arabia, the second in a LIV Golf event in Mexico where he finished 6th and now this week’s event in Orlando.
Dustin Johnson is another whose preparation for the Masters, which he won in 2020, has been restricted due to his involvement with Liv Golf and the former US Open and Masters Champion will play in just his fourth event of 2023 when he tees it up at Augusta National.
In 2020 Johnson had played seven PGA Tour events in the two months leading up to his historic win at The Masters.
Johnson finished 37th of 48 at the event in Mexico and 13th in Tuscon and will be keen for sharp improvement this week in Orlando ahead of a return to Augusta National.
So many others are in the same boat as far as preparation is concerned and if any of the LIV Golfers can find a away to win the Masters it will be some sort of effort given the very different preparation to that they have had for previous Masters on golf courses which are not necessarily akin to the test they will face at Augusta National.
