Dustin Johnson has declared Masters week 'business as usual' as fellow former champion Fred Couples played down the great divide between the PGA Tour stars and LIV Golf defectors.
Rivals from the two opposing tours are colliding at Augusta National for the first time since the sport's bitter war erupted last year when Johnson joined the LIV league for a reported $US200 million and several other major winners, including Australian Cameron Smith, followed suit.
Fans and officials alike have waited with bated breath to see how the game's biggest names will co-exist at the year's first major and, for Johnson personally, the 2020 champion doesn't expect any differently.
"For me, it's the same. All my buddies are still my buddies, and we play, and it's still golf. So it doesn't matter where you play at," Johnson said after a practice round with PGA Tour player Kevin Kisner.
"So it should be a great week and I'm looking forward to it. I still play golf for a living. I'm here at the Masters and enjoying this week. This week's all about Augusta.
"It has nothing to do with where you play at, but guys that are here, they play all around the world. Not everybody just plays on one spot."
Nor does Johnson believe, as many doubters claim, that the 18-strong LIV contingent will lack a competitive edge this week having only played three, 54-hole no-cut events so far in 2023.
"I usually don't play that many. I probably only played one or two less than normal," the former world No.1 said.
"I played a long time with all these guys so if I'm playing how I should, I'll be right there at the end."
Meanwhile, Couples insisted he will be happy to face Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia at Augusta, despite recently insulting his fellow former Masters champions.
Couples, who won the Masters in 1992, made the comments about LIV's Mickelson and Garcia as the guest speaker during a PGA Tour Champions breakfast event in California last month.
Referencing the vast fee paid to Mickelson to join the Saudi-funded breakaway, Couples said: "If you're giving Phil Mickelson 200 million (dollars) at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.
Couples went on to call Mickelson a "nutbag" and Garcia a "clown", which could make for an interesting atmosphere for Tuesday's Champions Dinner.
But Couples said: "I'm not expecting anything different.
"If they've looked at anything I've ever said I call myself the same stuff I'm calling them. I just don't think they should bash the PGA or anybody. Just go and play golf.
"Tomorrow night will be a great dinner, a lot of fun. People have asked me if I'm going to be paired (with LIV players). I would love to be paired with Phil.
"He's one of the best players who's ever played, loves this place as much as I do."
With PA
