For a second time in three months, Ben Crenshaw has expressed concern around when those who have been fitted with a famed green jacket, including six winners who are now LIV golfers, sit in the same room to honour 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler.
In January, the now 71-year-old Crenshaw was asked his thoughts in sharing the dinner table with those now competing under the LIV Golf banner, with Crenshaw remarking: “It’s a life-giving memory, I hope the focus is on the champion and the tournament but I really just don’t know – I’ve been worried about it I’ll be honest.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. Our job is to honour the champion Scottie Scheffler, not only for winning The Masters but for what a wonderful year he had last year – as he emerged as one of the best players in the world.
“It’s his night – each one of us has earned a lifetime exemption into the tournament, but our job is to honour Scottie as the champion.”
Now in an interview yesterday (Monday), Crenshaw again has not helped there be a calm atmosphere within the walls of the Augusta National clubhouse when he was asked once more on his thoughts about the dinner.
No, Crenshaw did not respond sounding positive nor did he say he was looking forward to greeting his fellow Masters champions, and nor did he say it doesn’t matter what tour they’re attached or did he even comment that he’s also looking forward to catching-up with fellow Texan Patrick Reed or, for that matter, how much he’s looking to shake the hand of long-time good friend Phil Mickelson.
Instead, Crenshaw again went with the negative angle, declaring: “It’s probably going to be tense in a few moments I suppose.”
Crenshaw’s view of the dinner is pretty much his same views with regards the ongoing war of words between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, as he explained in Monday’s interview.
“In my mind, it’s a little bit disruptive,” Crenshaw said.
“I’m very old-fashioned. I don’t particularly like what’s going on. I think the worst thing to me is that it’s fractured some relationships from player to player, and golf’s never really been that way.”
I’ve attended over 20 Masters and never heard so much waffle.
It begs the question, if double Masters winning Ben Crenshaw is worried about any tension at the upcoming Augusta former champions dinner, why does he bother to attend?
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