LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton escapes Masters ban after taking £50m gamble

15 April 2024 , 15:44

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Scottie Scheffler won the Masters - but already had lifetime eligibility for the Masters (Image: Getty Images)

LIV Golf star Tyrell Hatton took a risk with his majors future by joining the rebel Saudi Arabian-backed circuit in a £50million deal, but a superb final round at the Masters has already secured him a return to Augusta.

The first golf major of the year is always a special occasion, and among it's many traditions is the fact that the top 12 players - and those tying for 12th place - are among the very first to be secure in the knowledge they will be back among the azaleas and driving down Magnolia Lane in 12 months time.

Augusta officials have licence to change the criteria each year, and in 2024 offered a number of special invitations just a few weeks before the deadline, but in the main qualification doesn't change too much.

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Past winners of the green jacket have lifetime exemption, while amateur champions from across the globe, PGA Tour winners between the two Masters tournaments and winners of other majors over the past five years are among the categories for earning an invite.

Adam Schenk's wife appeared to confirm that the top 12 returning won't change for the 2025 Masters. This year's top 12 and ties featured an interesting group of players, some of whom already have their status secured and a number of others for whom snatching a spot towards the top of the leaderboard was all important.

Scottie Scheffler was crowned champion for the second time in three years, his 2022 triumph meant he had already secured a lifetime invitation to the iconic tournament and he will now take aim at more majors, as well as looking to become the first man since Tiger Woods (2001 and 2002) to defend the green jacket.

Joining him in the top 12, but already secure in the knowledge of a lifetime seat at the champions dinner is LIV Golf star Patrick Reed. The 2018 champion carded a level par final round of 71 to finish one-over-par for the tournament and record another impressive Augusta finish.

Life is not as simple for the LIV Golf stars these days. They can't rely on their world ranking or PGA Tour victories to get into the exclusive Masters field, performances in majors are really the only thing that will get the job done.

Jon Rahm moved to the Saudi circuit in January but like Reed is a former champion so knows he will be back. That was not the case for fellow LIV rebels, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Hatton who all finished within the qualification criteria.

DeChambeau won the U.S. Open in 2020 so has a five year exemption, Smith was winner of the Open in 2022 so has the same honour, but Tyrell Hatton risked missing out on a return, until he carded a fine final round 69 to finish in a tie for ninth and he will be back in 2023.

Like Smith and DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa is a former major champion. Having won the USPGA Championship in 2020 and the Open in 2021 the Californian is secure for at least a few more years.

Xander Schauffele would dearly love to add a major to his CV, and the World No 3 is a regular contender for PGA Tour titles, but his status as the reigning Olympic champion expires this summer so a fourth Masters top 10 in six years means he will be back with eyes on a green jacket.

LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton escapes Masters ban after taking £50m gamble

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Adding an international flavour to those on the way back are Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, England's Tommy Fleetwood, France's Mathieu Pavon and Australia's Cameron Davis. Remarkably Aberg was making his major debut, and finished second, the 24-year-old looks a major winner in waiting, and a fixture in the world's top 10, but his runners-up finish ensures he will be back.

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Fleetwood enjoyed his best ever showing at the Masters with a tie for third place, while Pavon has already enjoyed success on the PGA Tour this year. He squeezed into the top 12 to ensure no matter how his season pans out he will be back. Davis finished in the group at one-over-par and moved into the world's top 50 but he can already start planning for Augusta 2025.

Completing the list of those invited back are a quartet of American hopefuls who will all have a chance to win on the PGA Tour between now and next April, as well as improve their world ranking.

Max Homa and Will Zalatoris are likely to prove serious major contenders for years to come, and could contend again in 2024 with the USPGA and U.S Opens likely to suit both players. Cameron Young finished in the top 10 for the fifth time from his 10 events this year and is up to World No. 14.

Adam Schenk is perhaps the player most delighted with a top 12 finish that moved him into the world's top 50. He has yet to register a PGA Tour win, and got into the field for a Masters debut on the basis of making it to the Tour Championship in 2023.

But he will be back at Augusta in 2025, and the next 12 months will define who else joins those who have already punched their ticket to return to the most famous fairways in the sport.