Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has played down the chances of LIV Golf being handed a qualification route into the Masters amid the breakaway league's ongoing world ranking saga.
LIV's representation at this week's Masters is limited thanks to their lack of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition. The Saudi-backed circuit applied for OWGR sanctioning last October, but had their application rejected, meaning their events continued to go ahead without ranking points on offer.
The ranking system highlighted LIV's 54-hole no-cut format and limited promotion and relegation system as the reasoning behind the decision - an angle leant on by Ridley when discussing the potential of a LIV qualification system on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Brooks Koepka dismisses narrative surrounding LIV Golf impact on PGA Tour
READ MORE: Jon Rahm opens up on reception he has received at Masters since becoming a LIV Golf player
"I think it will be difficult to establish any type of point system that had any connection to the rest of the world of golf because they're basically, not totally, but for the most part, a closed shop,” Ridley said of the LIV setup. “There is some relegation, but not very much.
"It all really depends on what new players they sign. Those concerns were expressed by the OWGR, but I don't think that that prevents us from giving subjective consideration based on talent, based on performance to those players. Our goal is to have, to the greatest extent possible, the best field in golf, the best players in the world.
"Having said that, we never have had all the best players in the world because of the structure of our tournament. It's an invitational. It's limited field, it's a small field.”
Of the 13 LIV stars in action this week, seven are past champions in Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel. But e ight players who played last year are no longer invited to the Masters as they do not meet the qualification criteria.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US .
Elsewhere, three are major champions within the past five years in Cam Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, whilst LIV newbies Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk are in thanks to their world ranking. The anomaly is the breakaway league's 2024 leader Joaquin Niemann.
In a bid to make it down Magnolia Lane this week, Niemann ended 2023 and started 2024 by venturing to the DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia which came with some success. Two top-five finishes at the Dubai Desert Classic and Australian PGA Championship either side of victory at the Australian Open saw him climb up the rankings.
And whilst this was not enough to break the top-50, a victory at LIV Mayakoba in February saw the Chilean's form earn him a special invite from Augusta bosses. And whilst he is no doubt more than pleased with his Masters spot, Niemann has called on a change to the way professional golf's players are ranked across numerous tours.
"Right now the game is divided and it is not helping. It is hard to get a ranking system where everyone is happy," he told the BBC. "I feel [a unified system] is something which has to happen and will happen over time. It could be sooner or later, I don't know. Hopefully it will happen soon. I feel like the world ranking is a lie for a few players."
Bet £10 on the 2024 US Masters and get £30 in Free Bets* – T&Cs Apply