Masters Tournament won't change criteria for 2023, LIV golfers to be invited

Augusta National announced Tuesday that it won't change its criteria for the 2023 Masters Tournament, meaning that 16 LIV Golf members are set to be invited.

"Regrettably, recent actions have divided men's professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it," said the statement. "Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honor the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April."

The question of criteria changes to the majors comes as LIV Golf has grown in prominence. Many top players in the men's game have joined the controversial Saudi-backed league and subsequently been suspended from competing on the TOUR.

While on its schedule, the PGA TOUR doesn't organize the four majors.

World No. 3 Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Bryson Dechambeau, and 2020 champion Dustin Johnson are among the LIV golfers set to be invited to the Masters.

Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner, chose not to play in last season's tournament but is listed as an invitee for 2023.

The Masters is the first major on the PGA TOUR schedule. It's set from April 6-9, but invites for the tournament are sent out this week.

LIV events aren't currently recognized by the Official World Golf Rankings, meaning that many of the league's golfers may find it difficult to qualify for future majors.

In October, R&A CEO Martin Slumbers said the Open Championship wouldn't ban any players from competing, according to Golf Digest's John Huggan. Slumbers added that the R&A would announce specific plans regarding LIV players in early 2023.

Augusta National plans to announce any future tournament criteria changes in April.