Greg Norman has declared he will not be watching the 2026 Masters tournament after being snubbed by Augusta National, with the two-time major champion expressing his disappointment at the club's decision. The Australian golfing legend, who played a pivotal role in the LIV Golf rebellion in 2022, has been excluded from the prestigious event, marking another chapter in his strained relationship with the historic venue.
Norman's Exclusion from Augusta National
Augusta National has chosen not to extend an invitation to Greg Norman for the 90th edition of the Masters, which commences this Thursday. This decision continues a pattern of exclusion for Norman, who was similarly left off the invitation list in 2023 amid the controversy surrounding the LIV Golf breakaway. Despite his significant place in Masters history, Norman has never won the tournament, though he holds the course record and achieved eight top-five finishes.
A "Crying Shame" According to Norman
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Norman labeled the snub a "crying shame," revealing that he will not attend or watch the tournament this year. "Well, I won't be there, that's for sure; I never received the normal invitation from the Masters," Norman stated. He added, "I won't even watch it [because] I will be out of the country, to be honest with you. But I will follow the results day by day to see who's leading, what's happening."
Norman emphasized that he has moved on from the situation, though he expressed regret over the club's direction. "It just seems like I've moved on from that, too, which is a crying shame because [the] Masters and Augusta and a number of friends I have in Augusta National, the powers to be decided to go in a different direction. So, I have to accept that," he said.
Norman's Previous Masters Experiences
Following his exclusion in 2023, Norman attended the 2024 Masters by purchasing a general admission ticket on the resale market, allowing him to mingle with spectators beyond the gallery ropes. He described this experience as memorable, saying, "Getting out to the venue was something that I really, really enjoyed when I bought my own ticket a couple of years ago to go there. To feel it and walk around with the patrons was wonderful."
Norman recalled the positive reception he received despite the ongoing tensions between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. "I'll never forget that couple of days, to be honest with you, because of the support I had, even in the heat of everything with LIV and the PGA Tour. The overall sentiment was just overwhelmingly positive," he noted.
Club Chairman's Comments and Norman's Legacy
Club chairman Fred Ridley previously confirmed that Norman was excluded in 2023 to prevent him from becoming a distraction, though he disclosed that Norman had attended two Masters in the previous decade after receiving invitations. Norman's career includes 88 professional titles, including two Open Championships, solidifying his status as one of golf's elite players of his era.
However, his Masters legacy is marked by near-misses, most notably in 1996 when he squandered a six-shot lead on the final day, losing to Nick Faldo. A decade earlier, he bogeyed the last hole to fall one stroke short of Jack Nicklaus' winning score. Despite these setbacks, Norman remains a polarizing figure in the sport, especially following his involvement with LIV Golf, which led to his departure from the organization last year.
As the 2026 Masters approaches, Norman's absence underscores the ongoing divisions within professional golf, with his boycott highlighting the personal and professional rifts that have emerged in recent years.
