How all 13 LIV Golf stars fared at Masters as trio stand out and five miss cut
The 2024 Masters saw players from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf reunite, but unlike last year, member of the Saudi-backed league failed to make a real mark at Augusta National
It was the PGA Tour who claimed the bragging rights at last week’s Masters, as Scottie Scheffler secured his second green jacket in three seasons by landing a four-shot victory at Augusta National on Sunday.
It was last year’s champion and LIV Golf star Jon Rahm who put the iconic jacket over the shoulders of Scheffler, whose dominance at the top of professional golf continued in Georgia. Rahm was one of 13 LIV stars in the field this week, but failed to make his mark on his title defence.
The breakaway league enjoyed plenty of success at Augusta 12 months earlier – even prior to Rahm’s LIV switch – but similar success this time around was hard to come by. Here is look at how each LIV star faired in the first major championship of the campaign.
Bryson DeChambeau – T6 (-2)
The man who carried the LIV flag for the most part at Augusta was 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau. The American has a chequered Masters past but put that behind him this week, having been in contention throughout the tournament. DeChambeau was the 18-hole leader having shot a superb seven-under-par 65 last Sunday.
The Crushers GC captain however failed to kick on on Friday and Saturday, leaving him with plenty of work to do in the final round. It is course was not to be for DeChambeau following his gradual fall throughout the week, however he was able to post a career-best Masters finish in a tie for sixth.
Cam Smith – T6 (-2)
Joining DeChambeau in sixth was another major champion in Cam Smith. It was a steady week for the Australian at Augusta, posting two rounds of 71 and two 72s across his four rounds. Despite his top-10 finish, Smith struggled to get his name into contention throughout the week, but the performance will give the former Open champion some much-needed confidence heading into the next three majors of the year.
Tyrrell Hatton – T9 (E)
The third LIV golfer who just about crept into the top-10 was the ever-entertaining Tyrrell Hatton. The Englishman gave a brutally honest verdict of his struggles around Augusta, after failing to break par across his third rounds following the end of play last Saturday. He found some of his best form on Sunday though, shooting a three-under-par 69 in round four to finish level-par for the week.
Patrick Reed – T12 (+1)
Fourth in the LIV mini league came 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed. The 4Aces star ended his week at Augusta National with a solid level-par 72 in Sunday’s final round, and in doing so finished in a tie for 12th, a fifth top-20 finish at the Masters in his last seven visits.
Joaquin Niemann – T22 (+4)
Finishing just outside the top-20 on the leaderboard was LIV’s most in-form star in Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean was handed a special invite to compete at Augusta National last week amid his impressive recent run across both the DP World Tour and LIV setup, and he took advantage by landing a respectable tied-22nd finish.
Phil Mickelson – T43 (+8)
Phil Mickelson rolled back the year’s at Augusta National 12 months ago, finishing in a tie for second at the 2023 event. One year later, the LIV star was unable to replicate his heroics, but did make an impressive 28th cut at the iconic Georgia course before going on to finish in a tie for 43rd.
Phil Mickelson failed to find his best form at Augusta
Brooks Koepka – T45 (+9)
One man who headed to Augusta as one of LIV’s biggest hopefuls was Brooks Koepka. The five-time major champion is a Masters win away from completing the career Grand Slam, and came close in 2023 after finishing in a tie for second with Mickelson. This time around though it was not to be, as Koepka struggled to find his best form after finishing just inside the top-50.
Jon Rahm – T45 (+9)
Joining Koepka at nine-over-par for the week was defending champion and marque LIV signing, Rahm. The Spaniard had high hopes of becoming only the fourth Masters champion to win back-to-back jackets last week, but the Legion XIII captain was far from his best, having failed to break par across his four rounds.
Dustin Johnson (CUT)
Five LIV Golf stars saw their week early after missing the 36-hole cut, including 2020 champion Dustin Johnson. The 4Aces captain endured a nightmare return to Augusta National, carding a six-over 78 in round one and a seven-over 79 in round two to finish the week at 13-over, missing the cut by seven shots.
Adrian Meronk (CUT)
One of the few LIV stars who banked a Masters spot via their world rankings was Adrian Meronk, however the Legion XIII star failed to make the most of the opportunity in Georgia. Like Johnson, Meronk missed the cut after 36 holes, as rounds of 78 and 80 saw him finish at 14-over-par for the tournament.
Bubba Watson (CUT)
Bubba Watson headed to Augusta National last week with the hopes of becoming a three-time champion, but things did go to plan for the 2012 and 2014 champion. Watson found himself inside the cut line after carding a two-over 74 on Thursday, but testing conditions in round two saw him end his week thanks to a dismal eight-over 80.
Charl Schwartzel (CUT)
LIV have plenty of past Masters champions in their ranks, one being 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel. He too however failed to replicate the form that saw him receive a green jacket this time around, after also finishing on the wrong side of the cut line. In the aftermath of Friday’s second round, the South African opened up on just how tough the Augusta conditions were, commenting: “I don’t know if I’ve seen it like this. We had a few years where it’s blown, but this is as difficult as I’ve ever played it.”
Sergio Garcia (CUT)
The fifth and final LIV member to see their week end early was yet another former champion, in 2017 green jacket recipient Sergio Garcia. The Fireballs captain looked set to book his weekend place for only the second time since winning the title, but a dismal finish to Friday’s second round which included three bogeys and a double bogey in his last four holes saw him miss the cut by one.
