AUGUSTA, Ga. 鈥� Masters chairman Fred Ridley on Wednesday used the pulpit of his annual pre-tournament news conference to urge more action toward reunification between professional golf鈥檚 warring parties, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
鈥淚鈥檓 not really in a position to say what form that should take as far as how the two organizations should come together, or what legal structure that may be, or what the financial aspects of that may be,鈥� Ridley said. 鈥淲hat I am doing is encouraging cooperation and trying to figure out a way to get something done, regardless of what the structure of it is, to where everyone can play together again.鈥�
The Masters is now one of only four times a year PGA Tour and LIV players compete against each other along with the other majors: the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the British Open.
鈥淚 think we all agree that four times a year is not enough to have the great players of the game together,鈥� Ridley said.
LIV CEO attends
In a significant move, Augusta National Golf Club has invited LIV Golf CEO Scott O鈥橬eil to attend this year鈥檚 Masters, something it did not do with former LIV CEO and co-founder Greg Norman.
Ridley said he did not have specific plans to meet with O鈥橬eil this week, but added 鈥淚 know that we will have some discussions.鈥�
Echavarria wins Par-3聽
If Nicholas Echavarria is the Masters champion on Sunday night, remember he鈥檚 also the man to break the Par-3 jinx.
The Colombian golfer beat JJ Spaun in a two-hole playoff to win Wednesday鈥檚 Par-3 contest, a fun Masters tuneup played on Augusta National鈥檚 picturesque nine-hole par-3 course.
They tied at 5 under par, just two of 19 golfers to turn in a score. Most players end up not completing their round because they let a family member, caddie or even a patron from the gallery take a shot or make a putt.
Since it started in 1960, no one has ever won the Par-3 contest and the Masters in the same year, giving rise to the notion of a 鈥渏inx.鈥�
New voice at 16
Longtime commentator and former professional golfer Frank Nobilo takes over broadcasting from Augusta National鈥檚 16th hole at this year鈥檚 Masters, replacing legendary announcer Verne Lundquist.
Lundquist called the action at 16 from 2000-24, including Tiger Woods鈥� chip-in back in 2005, one of the most famous shots in Masters history.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Verne鈥檚 chair,鈥� Nobilo told Golfweek on Tuesday. 鈥淚鈥檓 just keeping it warm.鈥�
Nobilo, 64, who played in four Masters from 1995-98, will also call action on holes 2, 7 and 11.
Lundquist, 84, who resides in Colorado, said he will not attend this year鈥檚 tournament.
Mower math
Ever wondered what lengths grass is cut at Augusta National? The Masters released these stats Tuesday:
鈥� Fairways: 3/8ths of an inch
鈥� Second cut (primary rough): 1 3/8th inches
鈥� Greens: 1/8th inch
鈥� Green collars: 1/4th inch
鈥� Tee boxes and green surrounds:聽5/16ths inch
The last word
鈥淚f you鈥檙e not ready by now, you don鈥檛 really have a chance.鈥�
鈥斅�Rory McIlroy during Wednesday's Par-3 contest
