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Friday 6 January 2023

Masters champions could be in for dinner unlike any other

By DOUG FERGUSON ed to see what that’s like. I
AP Golf Writer don’t know who he’s going
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — to talk to, what he’s going
This exclusive field of cham- to say, if he’s going to go.”
pions might be the most Mickelson was not among
anticipated event of the the 31 Masters champi-
year. And it’s nowhere near ons at the dinner last year.
the Pacific shores along Ka- While he was serving a
palua. two-month PGA Tour sus-
The Masters Club is the for- pension, that didn’t affect
mal name of the annual his ability to the Masters.
dinner Tuesday night at He chose not to go, just as
Augusta National during he chose not to attend a
the Masters in April, and champions dinner at the
the guest list is restricted British Open at the sugges-
to Masters champions and tion of the R&A.
Chairman Fred Ridley. “It will be the first time we’ve
Scottie Scheffler is in charge all seen him in so long in a
of the menu as the reigning very interesting setting for
champion, and one mo- that,” Spieth said.
ment last year illustrates The seating arrangement,
how this might be a dinner according to various play-
unlike any other. ers, is like finding a spot in
Scheffler and his wife took Scottie Scheffler plays a shot from the fringe along on the ninth hole during the Tournament of a high school cafeteria.
a short vacation to Tennes- Champions pro-am golf event, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Players tend to flock to
see, walked into a restau- Hawaii. Associated Press their comfort zone and sit
rant and were surprised to with friends. This might be
see Bubba Watson and his vide in the sport caused by According to court docu- In an interview last June a good time to have place
wife sitting at one of the ta- the arrival of Saudi-funded ments, Mickelson had been with Golf.com, 1992 Mas- cards.
bles. Watson is a two-time LIV Golf, said it would keep suspended for two months ters champion Fred Cou- What Jon Rahm, whose
Masters champion. This will its invitation criteria for the before he joined for recruit- ples said of Mickelson, “I lone major is a U.S. Open,
be his 11th dinner. Masters. ing players to LIV. don’t think I’ll ever talk to could give to be there.
“I told him that I was just Six former champions Wat- They will be in the room him again.” “It’s probably only funny to
going to have a separate son, Phil Mickelson, Charl with Masters champions Suddenly, what Scheffler me, but I think the Masters
table for him in the corner Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia, who have not looked upon decides for the menu isn’t Champions Dinner is going
by himself,” Scheffler said Patrick Reed and Dustin kindly at the rebel league nearly as exciting as the to be a little tense com-
with a laugh. “Only kidding, Johnson are now part of run by Greg Norman. flow of the dinner conver- pared to how it’s been in
obviously.” LIV Golf. “They’ve turned their back sation. the past,” Rahm said. “So
Even so, imagine the mood All of them are suspended on what has allowed them “It’s going to be really in- I keep thinking about it
this year. by the PGA Tour for joining to get to this position,” five- teresting, isn’t it?” Jordan because I wish I could be
Augusta National, while not a rival league without per- time Masters champion Ti- Spieth said. “I’m really inter- there and just be able to
thrilled with the great di- mission. ger Woods said in July. ested in Phil, really interest- see how things work out. q

James, Durant lead early in NBA All-Star starter voting

NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron of the Brooklyn Nets might rematch. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid of the starters balloting, a
James of the Los Angeles be headed toward yet an- James is the overall leader (2,226,712). media ballot counts for 25%
Lakers and Kevin Durant other NBA All-Star Game so far in All-Star balloting, Golden State’s Stephen and the ballots turned in by
and Durant leads all East- Curry leads all guards in NBA players count for the
ern Conference players in the balloting with 2,715,520 other 25%.
early voting returns putting votes. Dallas’ Luka Doncic James has been a captain
them on track to be All-Star has the No. 2 spot among in all five previous uses of
captains for the third con- West guards with 2,388,502 that process, going 5-0 in
secutive year. votes. All-Star Games. His team
James had 3,168,694 votes Among East guards, Brook- beat a Durant-picked
entering Thursday, topping lyn’s Kyrie Irving leads with team in 2020 and 2021,
the list of Western Confer- 2,071,715 votes, and Cleve- beat teams picked by An-
ence frontcourt players. land’s Donovan Mitchell is tetokounmpo in 2018 and
Denver’s Nikola Jokic is second with 1,637,374. 2019, and beat a team
second (2,237,768) and the The top three frontcourt picked by Curry in 2017.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis is players and top two guards Voting continues through
third (2,063,325). in each conference will be Jan. 21. The captains and
Durant leads Eastern Con- chosen as starters, with the the starters will be an-
ference frontcourt play- leading overall vote-get- nounced Jan. 26. Reserves
ers with 3,118,545 votes. ters from each conference chosen by NBA coaches
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James peers at the American That’s just ahead of Mil- serving as captains and will be revealed Feb. 2, and
flag during the national anthem prior to the start of an NBA
basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. waukee’s Giannis Antetok- choosing their teams. the game is Feb. 19 in Salt
Associated Press ounmpo (2,998,327) and Fan voting counts for 50% Lake City.q