30 March 2023 , 08:44
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Golf legend and LIV critic Sir Nick Faldo will make his return to commentary at Augusta National after it was confirmed the veteran will be part of Sky Sports' coverage team at the Masters.
The three-time Green Jacket-winner appeared to confirm his retirement from punditry at the Wyndham Championship in August 2022. However, Faldo all but confirmed a report from the Telegraph, which suggested he'll return to screens from Georgia next week.
He took to Twitter and referenced the article while clarifying he had retired only from 'full-time broadcasting' and not the profession as a whole. Many fans will be eager to see the outspoken star lending his analysis for British viewers.
In particular, any proponents of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League may not care for his considerations following Faldo's public lambasting of the project. The six-time major champion has in the past branded the breakway series "meaningless" and took aim at former rival Greg Norman, the controversial CEO of LIV's operations.
"He was a great golfer," said Faldo of his ex-nemesis to Sky Sports in January. "He really was a charismatic, exciting golfer and he's absolutely wrecked all of that."
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Nick Faldo has joined Sky Sports' punditry team ahead of the Masters (Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)Faldo went one further by suggesting any players who had flocked to LIV shouldn't be allowed to feature in the Ryder Cup, either as players or captains. He told Sky Sports the reduced field and no-cut format in LIV made for a competition of "48 guys given loads of money," who shouldn't be allowed to keep their PGA privileges.
"What gripes me is it's not growing the game of golf. That really gets me when they fly across the world to a country that's been playing golf for 100 plus years and say, 'we're growing the game of golf,'" added the 65-year-old. "If they keep saying they want to grow the game of golf, go and take it to new regions. Countries in the early days of being interested in golf now."
The debate concerning LIV Golf's future and whether its players will be allowed to compete in future majors remains ongoing. However, a contingent of stars from the Saud-backed breakaway will be present at Augusta this year, including six former Masters champions.
Spectators will watch with anticipation to see just how Faldo fans the flames of controversy with those departed players in the field, with the likes of Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Phil Mickelson present. Australian Smith is the most fancied LIV loyalist to challenge for the Green Jacket, though he currently trails Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth in the odds.