One of the longstanding traditions of Masters Week in the world of golf is getting all of the past champions together for a “Champions Dinner”. However, tensions around this year’s Masters tournament are certainly far different with the emergence of LIV Golf.
This seems to have created a somewhat awkward-looking photo from the dinner that has gone viral.
A whopping 18 of the 88 players participating in this year’s Masters Tournament come as members of LIV Golf. Of these LIV Golf members, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel are all past winners at Augusta.
The Masters’ social media team posted a photo of all the past winners in their green jackets. Some of the more criticized LIV players like Mickelson, Reed, and Garcia appear to be sitting together on the right of the picture.
The 2023 Champions Dinner portrait. #themasters pic.twitter.com/4cLriTv8sO
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 5, 2023
The Masters’ dinner is typically meant to be a celebration of the past winner enjoying their claim to fame.
However, many see a clear division between the LIV players and everyone else.
A bunch of great golfers and a bunch of sellout losers.
— Mike Monaghan (@lifewithmikey52) April 5, 2023
Love all of the LIV guys huddled together and then DJ just sneaking off in the back corner all by himself https://t.co/9vqCsVaPyx
— Used Golf FACTS (@UsedGolfFacts) April 5, 2023
6 Liv guys.
Patrick Reed there and no rory is… ⛳️ https://t.co/rhQnQlAzx9— Dave Ross (@drosssports) April 5, 2023
It just pains me to look at the LIV guys.
— SanchoPanzy (@SanchoPanzy) April 5, 2023
The Champions Dinner has some awkwardness to it this year with LIV https://t.co/41nPggFMLy
— Michael Rogers (@TigerMike0442) April 5, 2023
I love how everyone around Patrick Reed is staying as far away as possible https://t.co/sSlDcmgO53
— Anthony (@AnthonyAB1213) April 5, 2023
Many players in this picture including Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth have made their opinions of LIV Golf very clear in recent months.
It was always going to be interesting to see how the PGA Tour players were going to interact with them at a major tournament setting like The Masters. If this picture is any indication, we could be in for a drama-filled week at Augusta.
