LIV authority Greg Norman wasn't invited to the Masters: “I want the focus to be on the competition”

Greg Norman indicated that he was not even invited to the Masters this year. Chairman Fred Ridley confirmed the rumor. Norman, the controversial CEO of LIV Golf, did not receive an invite from Augusta, and there's a reason for that.

Norman initially said via Golf Monthly:

“Funnily enough, I haven’t been invited. As a Major winner I always was before, but they only sent me a grounds pass last year and nothing, zilch, this time around. I’m disappointed because it’s so petty but of course I’ll still be watching.”

Ridley confirmed Norman's statement and gave an explanation:

"We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman. The primary issue and driver there is that I want the focus this week to be on the Masters. In the last 10 years Greg Norman has only been here twice."

Ridley also alluded to LIV when he initially ruled to allow their golfers to play in the Masters, saying back in December:

"Regrettably, recent actions have divided men’s professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it. Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honor the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April."

Despite the obvious disapproval of LIV and its members, Ridley opted to allow them to participate. He could have influenced the other three majors in their decisions as the Masters was the first major to announce this. The other three made the same decision.

Despite the snub, Norman will be watching from home and cheering on his LIV rebels. He's giddy about a LIV golfer potentially winning the tournament:

“No matter who it is, they are all going to be there on the 18th green, they are all going to be there, and that just gives me goosebumps to think about. To have those 17 other guys there, that’s the spirit we want.”

Will one of them take home a green jacket?

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Will Greg Norman's LIV Golfers win the Masters?

Can one of Greg Norman's rebels make him proud this weekend at the Masters? The odds aren't great, per Forbes (odds followed by implied percent chance of winning):

• Dustin Johnson 2,500 3.8%
• Cameron Smith 2,800 3.4%
• Brooks Koepka 4,400 2.2%
• Joaquin Niemann 7,000 1.4%
• Patrick Reed 7,500 1.3%
• Mito Peirera 11,000 0.9%
• Bryson DeChambeau 13,000 0.8%
• Abe Ancer 14,000 0.7%
• Louis Oosthuizen 14,000 0.7%
• Thomas Pieters 18,000 0.6%
• Sergio Garcia 19,000 0.5%
• Talor Gooch 21,000 0.5%
• Bubba Watson 22,000 0.5%
• Charl Schwartzel 25,000 0.4%
• Harold Varner III 26,000 0.4%
• Phil Mickelson 28,000 0.4%
• Jason Kokrak 34,000 0.3%
• Kevin Na 42,000 0.2%

Cam Smith has the best chance of winning according to these odds, and even he only stands about a 4% chance of taking the green jacket. Conversely, Rory McIlroy is seven-on-one to win it all.

Can Greg Norman's Cam Smith win the Masters?

LIV golfers may be allowed to play, but one of them winning seems like a pretty long shot.