31 March 2023 , 19:02
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LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau has revealed former friend and golf icon Tiger Woods ignored his texts ahead of a reunion at next week's Masters.
Five-time Masters winner Woods now has a part-time playing career on the PGA Tour due to the injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash - which left him with multiple fractures in his legs and ankles. The 47-year-old also struggles to walk around the course due to suffering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot and the PGA Tour Radio suggested he could also have a back injury.
Despite the injury troubles, Woods has been listed to talk at the Masters pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday, suggesting his participation.
Golf stars Woods and friend Rory McIlroy have spearheaded the PGA Tour response to the breakaway LIV Golf series. Both players are believed to have refused multi-million pound contracts from LIV, and Forbes reported Woods turned down a “high nine digits” offer to join the new circuit.
The last time Woods played against the LIV Golf rebels was at last year's Open Championship in July when he launched a stinging attack on those that had joined the breakaway series, and accused them of 'turning their backs' on the PGA Tour.
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As many as 18 LIV Golf members are set to feature at Augusta next week, with the rebels aiming to make a "pretty big statement” by taking honours in Augusta.
Bryson Dechambeau will be one of the LIV Golf members competing at The Masters next week (Getty Images)The third round of the LIV Golf series is taking place this weekend in Florida, and DeChambeau was asked if anybody had 'blanked him' for joining the breakaway circuit.
“Yeah, definitely. I’m sure you can guess who," the former US Open winner said. The American was then quizzed further and asked whether he was referring to Woods.
He added: “I’m not throwing anyone under the bus, but yeah, he’s been a great friend. I texted him on his birthday, but nothing. He has his viewpoints on it and thinks we’re potentially hurting his record.
“But if anything, nobody is ever going to touch his record. That’s just it, that’s the bottom line. There’s a chance here to grow the game even more, and I hope one day he’ll see the vision that we all have out here.”
Brooks Koepka says he is in regular conversation with PGA Tour stalwarts Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas (Steve Szurlej/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka will be amongst the LIV Golf rebels at Augusta and says there is no hostility between himself and PGA Tour stars, particularly McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
Koepka added: "I was just with Rory and JT the other day. We see each other quite a bit. I mean, there’s a lot of conversations.
"I was talking with Rory for probably about 30 minutes, about the ball changes they’re thinking of bringing in and all the other stuff that’s going on. No one is angry at anybody from what I’ve seen.”