Masters criteria allow LIV golfers to play in 2023 tournament

The Masters announced Tuesday that any golfer who has qualified for the tournament based on its previous criteria will be invited to play in the 2023 tournament in April.

That means at least 15 players currently on the LIV Golf circuit will be part of the field at Augusta National, including six past champions.

Tournament chairman Fred Ridley made the announcement.

Included in the field will be six past champs: Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel.

Cameron Smith qualifies for winning the 2022 Open Championship. Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are invited due to winning the U.S. Open in the past five years. Joaquin Niemann was in the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings and qualifies after leaving the PGA Tour in September.

Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na and Louis Oosthuizen are all in the top 50 in the current World Golf Rankings and should earn an invite. Also, any player in the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings on the week prior to the 2023 event would also earn an invitation.