CBS chairman vows fair Masters coverage for LIV players: "We won't cover it up!"

The chairman of CBS has outlined how LIV Golf players will be covered at the forthcoming 2023 Masters at Augusta National.

Ben Smith

Updated: 28 Mar 2023

CBS chairman vows fair Masters coverage for LIV players: "We won't cover it up!"

How exactly will LIV Golf League players be covered at the 2023 Masters?

This was one question posed to CBS chairman Sean McManus before the 87th edition of the tradition like no other.

In an interview with Golfweek's Adam Schupak, McManus stated that the broadcaster is not going to 'cover up or hide anything'.

That being said, the network isn't planning on leaning in on the PGA Tour-LIV Golf controversy.

Unless, there's a particularly mouth-watering storyline. Anyone for a Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed Sunday pairing?

McManus told the publication:

"We're not going to cover up or hide anything. As I've said often, our job is to cover the golf tournament. We're not going to show any different treatment for the golfers who have played on the LIV Tour than the other golfer.

"If there is a pertinent point or something that we feel we should bring up in our coverage Saturday or Sunday or on our other coverage throughout the week, we're not going to put our heads in the sand."

Asked about the warring tours, he added:

"Having said that, unless it really affects the story that’s taking place on the golf course, we're not going to go out of our way to cover it.

I'm not sure there is anything that we could add to this story as it already exists. It's a factor and we'll cover it as suitable."

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How many LIV Golf League players will be at the 2023 Masters?

A number of LIV pros will be teeing it up at Augusta National.

Those are:

Abraham Ancer
Bryson DeChambeau
Sergio Garcia
Talor Gooch
Dustin Johnson
Brooks Koepka
Jason Kokrak
Phil Mickelson
Kevin Na
Joaquin Niemann
Louis Oosthuizen
Mito Pereira
Thomas Pieters
Patrick Reed
Charl Schwartzel
Cameron Smith
Harold Varner
Bubba Watson

CBS chairman vows fair Masters coverage for LIV players:

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed last December LIV players wouldn't be banned.

But he did hint that in future they could be barred from participation.

Ridley said the LIV players had:

"Divided men's professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it."

He added:

"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.

"Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honour the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April.

"Therefore, as invitations are sent this week, we will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament.

"As we have said in the past, we look at every aspect of the tournament each year, and any modifications or changes to invitation criteria for future tournaments will be announced in April."

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