The “secretive” nature of Masters invitations means LIV guns Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert aren’t locking in a start at Augusta should they win the Australian Open after last year’s winner Joaquin Niemann had the door open to him.
But the three spots on offer at the British Open loom large for both, with Leishman declaring he won’t be ”chasing” world rankings points to get back into the majors, adding extra motivation, “if we need any”, to capture the flagship event.
Augusta chairman Fred Ridley called the Australian Open one of the “great, great championships in the world” as he explained Niemann’s invitation, raising hope this year’s victor could earn the same welcome.
But it’s an event the Australian duo conceded had become harder and harder to win as more talent emerged, highlighted by 22-year-old Elvis Smylie’s PGA Championship win, holding off Cam Smith and Leishman last weekend.
“I think those three Open spots are huge. Definitely a big drawcard for this event,” Leishman, who has three top-10s at both the British Open and the 추천 Masters but hasn’t played a major since 2022 after his move to LIV, said on Tuesday.
“We all want to be playing the majors, but certainly it’s extra motivation to play well this week if we need any. The (British) Open championship spots, they have a few events that have it and if it works in, I’ll definitely look at playing those.
“But as far as world rankings and chasing those for me, I’m not going to do that.”
Herbert, who played the Masters once, in 2022, among his 15 major championship appearances, wanted golf to get back to a landscape where “something translates a bit more directly” for LIV players who don’t have existing exemptions.
“It’s tricky. Augusta’s always quite secretive about how they give away their invites if you’re outside the top 50 in the world and don’t sort of fit into the general criteria,” he said.