As LIV Golf's wait to be recognised by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) continues, Thomas Pieters admits his days of teeing it up at The Masters could be numbered.
Players on the breakaway circuit are currently banned from the PGA Tour and were dealt another blow after a report emerged that the DP World Tour has won its panel hearing against LIV players.
That leaves limited opportunities for the likes of Pieters, the World No. 44 who joined Bubba Watson's Range Goats ahead of the 2023 LIV Golf League, to earn ranking points.
The Belgian has played in The Masters three times, finishing in a tie for fourth on debut in 2017, and is out to savour what could be his last appearance at Augusta National for the Green Jacket showdown.
"Not really," Pieters said, when asked is he was concerned about his world ranking plummeting. "It's always nice to be here. Obviously family's here, mum and dad are even here. First time for them, so that's pretty cool.
"I took my parents here because it could be my last one. That's just being realistic. I don't know. Time will tell. We'll see."
Much has been made in the build-up of the divide that has fractured the men's game between players on the traditional tours and those who left to join the Saudi-funded circuit. Harold Varner was one of the defectors in 2022 and hit out at what he feels has been media bias against LIV Golf, a sentiment Pieters echoed.
"I haven't felt any tension," he added. "It's just nice to see them [PGA and DP World Tour players] again. Yeah, it's nice to see them again. The media's making it much of a bigger thing than it really is."
Pieters is out with Shane Lowry - whom he played a practice round with - and Mackenzie Highes for rounds one and two, and gets underway at 9.36am local time (3.36pm BST) on Thursday.
-
'A Natural Fit' - Tiger Woods Backs Keegan Bradley US Ryder CaptaincyThe 15-time Major winner made his remarks during an appearance in the NBC Sports broadcasting booth in the final round of the Hero World Challenge
-
Scottie Scheffler Set To Overtake Six-Time Major Winner For Consecutive Weeks As World No.1The 28-year-old will soon reach 82 weeks at the top of the world rankings, overtaking Nick Faldo
-
LIV Golf’s Bubba Watson Returning To The Mic In Star-Studded MatchA host of iconic faces from the world of sport and entertainment will come together for the latest edition of 'The Match' on primetime TV later this month
-
Bubba Watson To Make International Series Debut Following Tough LIV Golf SeasonThe two-time Masters champion will compete against rival LIV golfers and the leading Asian Tour players at the BNI Indonesian Masters later this month
-
Rory McIlroy Says Olympic Gold Could Be His Biggest Achievement Since 2014The Northern Irishman came close to a medal at the Tokyo Games and is aiming to go at least one better at Paris 2024
-
'Nonsense. That's Links Golf Courses' - Paul McGinley Says Shane Lowry Will 'Regret' Open Set-Up CommentsThe Golf Channel analyst labelled Lowry's call to have a couple of tees pushed forward on Saturday "nonsense" after the 2019 Open Champion was mildly critical of how the R&A had set Royal Troon up in bad weather
-
'It's Not Just Some Made-Up Number' - Bubba Watson Reveals Method LIV Golf Uses to Decide Sign-On FeesThe two-time Masters champion says a formula is used to decide how much to offer a player LIV Golf wants to attract
-
Rory McIlroy Fires Three-Under Third Round To Lead Genesis Scottish OpenThe four-time Major winner will take a one shot lead into the final day, with a number of huge names in pursuit
-
Harrington Will Change His Schedule To Improve Ryder Cup ChancesPadraig Harrington says he'll change his summer schedule and play in Europe if Luke Donald says he's genuinely in the mix for a Ryder Cup place
-
Future Open Championship VenuesWe take a look at where the Open will be held after this year’s Championship at Royal Troon
