For most of the week, it looked like there was a glitch in the Masters app and streaming.
Front page of the leaderboard. Second page of the leaderboard. Sometimes even the third page of the leaderboard.
And cannot find a LIV player.
If not for a final round 66 from Tyrrell Hatton that moved him into a tie for third, it would have been something of a disastrous week for LIV—none of the other league players finished in the top 30 of the field with 91 people.
So maybe LIV playing a glorified course in South Africa and then taking three weeks off wasn’t the best form of preparation to compete on a course that demands precision.
In the past, LIV has played a more American program closer to the Masters and other majors. It’s fair to wonder if the 2026 schedule hurt LIV players.
Even with perfect preparation, it is very clear that the best boys of LIV have missed a step in the degree.
Is it about motivation? Sharpness? Something else?
DeChambeau, Rahm were total no-shows
The LIV Masters disaster begins with Bryson DeChambeau.
A popular pick to win this week based on his back-to-back victories at LIV, Bryson’s week was marked by terrible wedge play and getting stuck in more bunkers than Saddam. He bogeyed No. 11 in his opening round and then bogeyed No. 18 in his second round to miss the cut by two shots.
I think his Personal 3D printed 5-iron couldn’t save him.
While it’s true that LIV has generally been a positive for DeChambeau — he won the 2024 US Open and has really been LIV’s only consistent presence in major events — it’s clear that he hasn’t solved Augusta National’s problem.
Whether it’s his longer wedges, the difficulty of playing so many uneven lies or something else entirely, DeChambeau’s approach game has been poor at the Masters — even during his best results at the ANGC.
But much more disappointing between the two main stars of LIV? Jon Rahm.
The expectation for Rahm is to be one of the top five players in the world. Data Golf has had it at number 2 for a long time. His LIV showings are solid, although it’s funny he’s only won three times against plumbers and firemen in those limited fields.
Regardless, it’s time to officially sound the alarm about Rahm in the majors.
He opened the Masters with a 6-over 78 and was completely out of the tournament by the time he reached the back nine on Thursday. It’s good that he fought to get the result, but it’s not a big win for a player who has the capacity to be the No. 1 in the world.
The last time Rahm legitimately claimed a major was the 2023 Masters. That was three years ago.
Since signing with LIV, something is missing mentally. He has lost an edge.
He still has the physical tools and is in the prime of his career, but that’s all the more reason to be sad to see Rahm tire out at LIV and then not show up in the majors, while players who are supposed to be in his same class – Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and others – make Rahm more and more irrelevant with each passing major.
And then there’s the rest of the crew in cruise control
Remember the name Cameron Smith?
He should be in the prime of his career, but he has chosen not to realize that potential. He accomplished a lot, including winning the 2022 Open Championship, and now he’s cashing in big checks and chilling.
Hey, you can’t be critical of someone who decides their priority in life is family, friends and not stressing about golf. This is his right. Good for him. We would probably do the same if given the chance.
But it’s also golf fans’ right to be sorely disappointed that we don’t get to watch him actually compete in the majors. It’s a fan’s right to be upset that a very talented player with a bad short game doesn’t care to improve his craft.
Smith has missed his last six major cuts. This week it was a 74-77 score, missing the cut by three shots.
Dustin Johnson? Oh, he checked out years ago.
Sergio Garcia? He’s crashing his driver over a cooler.
The cast of LIV has consistently disappointed in the majors. There are a handful of guys that we’ve completely forgotten about since they left the PGA Tour.
After great initial success, LIV’s stars have taken a turn for the worse
Brooks Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship and Bryson won the 2024 US Open.
These are the only LIV players to win a major since the league’s inception. And Koepka isn’t even in LIV anymore.
One LIV player who has had consistent success in the majors is Bryson. Rahm has enjoyed several top-10 finishes, but hasn’t been close to competing at the end of a race in the last three seasons.
What is the reason?
Maybe you’re not playing enough good golf courses against good competition. Maybe it’s how uneven the schedule is – including how many international games are involved – so it’s hard for players to get into a groove towards the majors.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of LIV players who become afterthoughts in the majors.
Let me know what you think in the comments section.
Top Photo Caption: Jon Rahm reacts after finishing his second round of the Masters. (GETTY IMAGES/Maddie Meyer)
