Masters Tournament: tension on the menu of the dinner of champions

UPDATE DAY

AUGUSTA | Many would like to turn into a little sparrow to attend the traditional dinner of champions of the Masters Tournament, Tuesday evening. Will the atmosphere be explosive or hushed around the table?

This is the big question everyone is asking. Because the moment will bring together the deepest voices of both factions: the champions who remained on the PGA Tour and those who defected to LIV Golf and took pleasure in bringing legal action against their former comrades. < /p>

Getting the answer depends on who you ask and when. Opinions differ, but everyone agrees to want to respect the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler. 

We can imagine the scene as many comical images circulate on social networks. Avid PGA Tour defenders and LIV Golf critics Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Co. will have lunch with Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and Co. >Three weeks ago, the winner of the 2003 edition, Canadian Mike Weir, said in an interview with Le Journal that he was expecting a strange evening. 1995 Green Jacket winner Ben Crenshaw also told Sports Illustrated magazinethat he was a little worried because of the context. The now 71-year-old golfer hopes that tempers will have cooled before the famous dinner. 

We may know more about the crisp details of the evening on Wednesday. At least, if someone escapes, because the rule is clear: what is said around the table, stays around the table.

An eccentric and a clown

Criticizing LIV representatives whom he recently insulted, including Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, whom he called eccentric and clown respectively, Fred Couples signaled that he will behave like a gentleman during the evening. He will also be flanked by the two golfers.

Not so long ago, the 1992 champion badly scratched Mickelson. He then said, “If you give 52-year-old Phil Mickelson $200 million to play 74 and 75, God bless you.”

On Monday, Couples reaches the fire on the eve of the prestigious feast. 

“I have made comments, but they must understand that I am saying the same thing about myself. However, they should not hit anyone and the PGA Tour to whom I gave 43 years of my life. Let them just play golf, argued the 63-year-old man.

“It will be a good and pleasant dinner, he continued. People ask me who I would like to be matched with and I say I want to be matched with Phil. He is one of the best golfers. He adores Augusta as much as I do. 

Couples is also ready to answer for his actions if any of the flayed want to talk. “I don't believe I said such horrible things. These guys make comments and I hit back. That's it. » 

Again with Woods

As is their tradition, Couples shared their practice round with Tiger Woods, Monday. Rory McIlroy and young star Tom Kim accompanied them. 

According to the veteran, the Tiger is in good shape. He is however aware that this first major tournament of the season will not be a piece of pie. 

“His leg, he can't change anything about it. I don't know if he will be able to improve his condition further. I don't think he can manage to play 12 tournaments a season. But he's strong enough to hit the ball a mile. Not as far as Rory as not many golfers can get there. Tiger hits her good and solid. This is a good omen. ”