LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was spotted at Augusta National on Wednesday.

It was just last year that Norman—due to his divisive role in professional golf’s civil war—was unwelcomed at Augusta National, an absence notable given officials from the sport’s other major organizations were present. “Funnily enough, I haven’t been invited,” Norman said in 2023. “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.”

Masters chairman Fred Ridley confirmed the club’s stance toward the leader of the Saudi-backed circuit. “We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman. The primary issue and the driver there is that I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition, on the great players that are participating, the greatest players in the world, which, by our decision in December, we ensured that we were going to honour and be consistent with our invitation criteria,” Ridley said. “I would also add that, in the past 10 years, Greg Norman has only been here twice, and I believe one of those was as a commentator for Sirius Radio. It really was to keep the focus on the competition.”

But Norman was seen at an Italian pop-up restaurant on Tuesday night this week, and on Wednesday walked around the tournament grounds, seen chatting with patrons and players, including Australia’s Min Woo Lee.

Norman, 69, made 23 Masters starts in his career, contending multiple times and finishing second on three occasions. He’s mostly associated with the Masters for losing a six-shot lead on Sunday at the 1996 tournament, ultimately shooting at 78 to finish behind Nick Faldo by five strokes.

Norman’s appearance comes as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s financial backer, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, continue negotiations on a potential long-term peace agreement.

Image: David Cannon