Overview
- Player, 90, told Golf Monthly he asked to play a fourball with three grandsons at Augusta and said he accepted the refusal with sadness.
- Augusta National has offered no public explanation, and access to the course outside Masters week is restricted to members and their invited guests; Player is not a member.
- Coverage highlighted a 2021 incident in which Player’s son Wayne promoted golf balls during the honorary starters ceremony, after which he was reportedly banned from Augusta National.
- Online reaction was largely unsympathetic, with many fans pointing to past issues and to Player’s prior comments ranking the Masters behind the other majors.
- Despite the denial, Player remains a three-time Masters champion with a record 52 starts and has served as an honorary starter at the tournament since 2012.