Even though Masters champions can, in theory, play in the Major for life, there had been some doubt as to whether that would apply to LIV Golf players in 2023.
That question was finally answered in the months before the tournament when Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed LIV Golf players would be allowed to compete in the first Major of the year.
While that opened the door for 18 LIV Golf players to compete in 2023, six of those do so thanks to their previous victories in the tournament. Here’s how they wrote their names into the history books.
Phil Mickelson – 2004, 2006, 2010
Phil Mickelson returns to The Masters after missing the 2022 tournament
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The LIV Golf player whose name is most synonymous with The Masters is Phil Mickelson. In fact, so regular had the American’s appearances been in the tournament that, even though he was mired in controversy at the time, it came as some surprise when, in 2022, he missed the tournament for the first time in 28 years.
Mickelson has worn the Green Jacket three times, first in 2004 after edging out South African Ernie Els by one shot after holing an 18-foot birdie on the 72nd hole. While Lefty failed to claim back-to-back victories after finishing 10th the following year, it wasn’t too long until he won again. In 2006, Mickelson had risen to the top of the leaderboard by the end of the third round and eased to a two-shot victory over Tim Clark despite bogeying the final hole.
The following three years brought a tie for 25th, a tie for fifth and an outright fifth before Mickelson claimed his hat-trick of Augusta National victories in 2010. Then, he beat another player who would eventually sign for LIV Golf, Lee Westwood, by three shots after pulling away from the Englishman on the back nine in the final round.
Charl Schwartzel – 2011
Charl Schwartzel became the third South African to win The Masters in 2011
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The year after Mickelson’s most recent Masters win, Charl Schwartzel claimed the title in only his second appearance in the tournament. The final round was a rollercoaster affair, with eight players sharing the lead at various points. However, Schwartzel came out on top, helped by an eagle on the third and four birdies to close out his round of 66.
Schwartzel became the third South African to wear the Green Jacket after Gary Player and Trevor Immelman. He came close again in 2017 but eventually had to settle for third behind Justin Rose and…
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