Paige Spiranac has taken a swipe at LIV Golf players following the announcement that they will be allowed to compete at the 2023 Masters. The golf influencer shared a video of celebrity chef Salt Bae awkwardly chasing Argentina's Lionel Messi after the World Cup final, captioning it: 'LIV players trying to say hi to Rory (McIlroy) at the Masters'.
The comparison comes after Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed that LIV golfers who qualify under existing criteria will be invited to the tournament. This includes around 15 players from the Saudi-backed breakaway tour, such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith.
Rory McIlroy, a vocal critic of LIV Golf, has previously expressed his disdain for sharing events with defectors. In August, he said: 'I hate it, I really do. I hate what it is doing to the game of golf.' The Masters, scheduled for April 6-9, will now see McIlroy competing alongside those he has criticised.
Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, faced widespread mockery for his pitch invasion during Argentina's celebrations. FIFA is reportedly investigating the incident, as he appeared to break rules by accessing the field.
