First Look: LIV Golf players at the Masters

Eleven LIV Golf players will compete in the first major of the season, the Masters, on April 9-12 at Augusta National in Georgia. 

WHO'S IN?

The list of LIV Golf players and their primary exemption for qualifying

Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC)  … 2024 U.S. Open win
Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC) … Past champion (2017)
Tyrrell Hatton (Legion XIII) … Top 4 in 2025 U.S. Open (T4)
Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC) … Past champion (2020)
Tom McKibbin (Legion XIII) … Winner of 2025 Hong Kong Open
Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC) … Past champion (2004, 2006, 2010)
Carlos Ortiz (Torque GC) … Top 4 in 2025 U.S. Open (T4)
Jon Rahm (Legion XIII) … Past champion (2023)
Charl Schwartzel (Southern Guards) … Past champion (2011)
Cameron Smith (Ripper GC) … 2022 Open win
Bubba Watson (RangeGoats GC) … Past champion (2012, 2014)

KEY STORYLINES

• Six of the 11 LIV Golf players in this year’s Masters field are past champions, combining for nine green jackets

• Two-time major winners Jon Rahm (Legion XIII) and Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC) have combined to win the last three LIV Golf tournaments, with DeChambeau beating Rahm in a playoff in South Africa for his second consecutive win

• HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson, the three-time Masters winner, will be making his 33rd start at Augusta National and 130th start in a major

• The 55-year-old Mickelson has made just one LIV Golf start this season after missing the first four tournaments due to family health matters

• 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, the Fireballs GC Captain, is making the 103rd start of his major career

• Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, captain of RangeGoats GC, is making the 60th start of his majors career

• Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith, who has five top-10 finishes in his last eight Masters starts, will look to bounce back after missing the cut for the first time at Augusta National last year

• Legion XIII’s Tom McKibbin is making his Masters debut; the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland qualified due to his seven-stroke win at the 2025 Link Hong Kong Open

• At least two LIV Golf players (active at the time) have finished in the top 10 of the Masters in each of the previous three years

• Nine of the 13 LIV Golf teams will be represented by at least one player at Augusta National

• Legion XIII is the only team with multiple players in the field – Rahm, McKibbin and Tyrrell Hatton

DECHAMBEAU, RAHM ENTER IN SIZZLING FORM

Based on current form, Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm could very well find themselves battling each other for the green jacket down the stretch Sunday at the Masters. 

DeChambeau and Rahm – each a two-time major winner – are LIV Golf’s hottest players through the first five tournaments of the 2026 season. DeChambeau has won the last two tournaments via playoffs, first at LIV Golf Singapore against Richard T. Lee, then at LIV Golf South Africa when he defeated Rahm on the first playoff hole. 

Prior to DeChambeau’s back-to-back victories, Rahm won LIV Golf Hong Kong by three strokes, the high point of an impressive 2026 start that also includes three runner-up finishes and another top-5 result. 

DeChambeau and Rahm were also co-leaders through 54 holes at LIV Golf Adelaide, the second tournament of the season, before Anthony Kim rallied on the final day.

Thanks to his relentless consistency, Rahm, the reigning two-time LIV Golf Individual Champion, is the season-long points leader through five tournaments. DeChambeau ranks second, the only player within 300 points of Rahm’s lead. 

“It’s interesting, neither of us had the Sunday we wanted in Adelaide, and after that for both of us to win, I think it shows that we learned from certain mistakes,” Rahm said when asked about battling DeChambeau. “He's been playing fantastic golf. It's been incredible. When he gets going, he's a very difficult man to beat.” 

“Hats off to Jon Rahm,” DeChambeau said after surviving Rahm’s final-round 63 in South Africa. “I’ve got to tell you, that guy, gosh, he’s too good. He’s unbelievable. That’s why he’s one of the best in the world.” 

Rahm, unlike DeChambeau, has the benefit of having previously won at Augusta National. In 2023, he shot a final-round 69 to finish at 12 under, four strokes ahead of Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka for his second major title. In the process, he became the first player from Europe to win the U.S. Open and the Masters. 

DeChambeau, meanwhile, has shown signs of figuring out Augusta National in his last two Masters starts. In 2024, he was tied for the 36-hole lead, eventually finishing tied for sixth. Last year, he was solo second through 54 holes, ultimately tying for fifth – his career-best Masters finish. 

Winning form, positive trends, world-class talent, plenty of momentum – the stage is set for another potential DeChambeau-Rahm showdown. 

MICKELSON AT THE MASTERS

World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, captain of HyFlyers GC, is a legend in the sport thanks in large part to his success at the Masters. Three of his six career majors have come at Augusta National, including his first major win in 2004, and his name is all over the record book. 

FINISHES

WINS
Mickelson has 3, tied for fourth-most behind Jack Nicklaus (6), Tiger Woods (5) and Arnold Palmer (4)

TOP 5
Mickelson has 12, tied for second-most with Tiger Woods behind Jack Nicklaus (15)

TOP 10 
Mickelson has 16, third-most behind Jack Nicklaus (22) and Ben Hogan (17)

CUTS 
Mickelson has made 28 cuts, sixth-most in Masters history

MOST MONEY

Mickelson is the Masters’ all-time money leader with $9,870,317 in earnings, just ahead of Tiger Woods at $9,642,636

TROPHY CASE 

While his green jacket remains at Augusta National, winning the Masters three times also has earned him:

>3 Sterling Silver Replica Masters Trophies
>3 Gold Medals

Finishing second twice has earned him:
>2 Silver Salvers
>2 Silver Medals

Being Low Amateur in 1991 earned him:
>Sterling Silver Cup

In addition, the Masters awards prizes for various outstanding feats. Mickelson has earned:

>13 pairs of personalized Crystal Goblets for his 13 eagles between 1991-2010

>7 pairs of Highball Glasses for his seven eagles since 2012

>4 Crystal Vases for the four times he has shot the low round of the day
-1995 (Rd. 1 66)
-2010 (Rd. 3 67)
-2015 (Rd. 3 67)
-2023 (Rd. 4 65) 

RECORDS 

Just a few of the references to Mickelson in the Masters’ record book:
>Has shot 280 (8 under) or better 9 times, more than any other player
>Has finished under par in 19 starts, 2nd most to Jack Nicklaus (22)
>Among 7 players who have shot the lowest First 9 (30)
>Owns the lowest 18-hole score for a player 50-or-older (65 in the final round in 2023 at age 52)
>One of just 4 players to eagle consecutive holes (2010, Rd 3, holes 13 & 14)
>Has 60 sub-par rounds, 2nd behind Jack Nicklaus (71)
>His 25 birdies in 2001 is the second most of any player in a single tournament (Jordan Spieth, 28)
>Has second-lowest career scoring average (71.44) in Masters history for players with 100-plus rounds (Tiger Woods, 71.30) 

FUN FACT 

In winning his first Masters in 2004, Mickelson made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to break a tie with Ernie Els. It’s the sixth time – and the last so far – in which a final birdie putt decided the outcome in regulation.

2026 FORM 

Jon Rahm (1st in points) … 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 5th, 2nd

Bryson DeChambeau (2nd in points) … T17, T3, T24, 1st, 1st

Carlos Ortiz (15th in points) … T13, T42, 6th, T21, 8th

Tyrrell Hatton (17th in points) … 47th, T3, T45, T10, T38

Cameron Smith (20th in points) … T13, T8, 48th, T8, T17

Dustin Johnson (26th in points) … T17, T17, T24, T10, T31

Sergio Garcia (30th in points) … T30, T37, T8, T35, T17

Charl Schwartzel (34th in points) … T30, T17, T31, T21, T24

Tom McKibbin (38th in points) … T17, T44, T24, T21, T24

Bubba Watson (48th in points) … T48, T37, T41, T28, T38

Phil Mickelson (59th in points) … DNP, DNP, DNP, DNP, T48