With the Masters Tournament kicking off Major Championship season next week, how many LIV players have qualified for the prestigious event?
The Saudi backed circuit doesn’t receive any World Ranking points and with the Majors predominantly selecting players based on their Official World Golf Ranking, LIV players have had to use alternative routes available to them.
While the likes of Talor Gooch and Louis Oosthuzien will not be featuring at Augusta National, the following 13 LIV golfers will be and this is how the qualified for the first Major Championship of 2024.
Bryson DeChambeau
The big hitting American returns to Augusta National for an eighth time next week after making his Masters Tournament debut in 2016, where he finished as Low Amateur.
How did he qualify?
The American secures a spot in the tournament as a prior U.S. champion after winning the event in 2020. Winners of the U.S. Open receive a five year exemption into The Masters meaning this will be the last year of that exemption for DeChambeau. He is also exempt into this month’s edition after finishing inside the top four and ties at last year’s PGA Championship.
Did you know?
DeChambeau once described the par-72 Augusta National course as “a par-67 for me’’ because he can reach all the par-5s. The 30-year-old has only beaten that score once in his seven outings.
Sergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia is making his 25th Masters Tournament start next week, 25 years after making his tournament debut in 1999.
How did he qualify?
Garcia beat Justin Rose in a play-off in 2017 to lift the Masters Tournament trophy for the first time in his career. As a previous winner of the event, the Spaniard receives a lifetime exemption into the tournament.
Did you know?
The 44-year-old named his baby daughter Azalea after the hole at Augusta National where he made a vital par en route to his victory in 2016.
Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton returns to the hallowed turf of Augusta National for the eighth time, bidding to better his best ever finish of tied 18th (2021) at the tournament.
How did he qualify?
The Englishman earned his spot by qualifying for last year’s season-ending Tour Championship on the PGA Tour as well as placing inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) at the end of 2023.
Did you know?
Hatton’s best result in a Major Championship is a tie for fifth at The 2016 Open Championship.
Dustin Johnson
Boasting a record of six top 12 finishes in his last eight Masters starts, including victory in 2020, Dustin Johnson returns to Augusta National for the 14th time, seeking a second Green Jacket.
How did he qualify?
After setting a Masters Tournament record in 2020 with his 20-under-par score of 268 to win by five strokes over Sungjae Im and Cameron Smith, Johnson is exempt into the tournament for a lifetime.
Did you know?
The American withdrew from the tournament in 2017 just days before it was about to start after injuring his lower back in a fall at the home he was renting for the week. Johnson was the pre-tournament favourite that year, arriving at Augusta National as World No.1 having won his last three starts.
Brooks Koepka
The man for the Majors over the last seven years after picking up five of them, Brooks Koepka returns to the Masters Tournament for the ninth time, hoping to add a Green Jacket to his three PGA Championship and pair of U.S. Open trophies.
How did he qualify?
The American is exempt into the tournament through a range of different routes. The first of those is his five-year exemption as a PGA Championship winner, he will be able to use that for the next four editions after next month. He also finished inside the top 12 and ties at last year’s Masters which booked him a return trip, as well as finishing in the top four at last year’s PGA Championship. The final two exemptions come from winning a full-point FedExCup event (PGA Championship) and placing inside the top 50 of the OWGR at the end of 2023.
Did you know?
Brooks Koepka became the first active LIV golfer to win a Major Championship with victory at the PGA Championship last year, but he nearly achieved the feat earlier after finishing runner-up at the Masters. The 33-year-old had held a two-shot lead over Jon Rahm after 54 holes but ended up finishing four back following the final round.
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson is set for his 31st Masters Tournament start next week – the only active player to have played more in this year’s field is Fred Couples, who is making his 39th appearance.
How did he qualify?
As a three-time winner of the tournament, ‘Lefty’ is exempt for a lifetime. He also would have gained access through his PGA Championship win in 2021, where he became the oldest winner of a Major Championship at the age of 50, as well as finishing inside the top 12 and ties at last year’s Masters, where he finished in a share of second.
Did you know?
The World Golf Hall of Fame member is one of eight to win at least three Masters and one of three with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to finish inside the top five at least 12 times at Augusta National.
Adrian Meronk
The Dubai resident returns to Augusta National for the second time after making his debut last year to become the first Pole to play the tournament.
How did he qualify?
Meronk qualified by placing inside the top 50 of the OWGR at the end of 2023. Back then he was ranked 48th and has fallen to 55th since joining LIV Golf in February.
Did you know?
Meronk is Poland's first winner on the DP World Tour and the country's first golfer in all four Major Championships as well as the Olympic Games.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm returns to Augusta National for the eighth time, aiming to defend the title he so brilliantly won in 2023. The Spaniard ended up cruising to a four-stroke triumph on what would have been the late, great Seve Ballesteros’ 66th birthday.
How did he qualify?
As the champion of last year’s edition, Rahm has an exemption into the Masters Tournament for a lifetime. He would have also qualified via his U.S. Open triumph in 2021, first four players and ties at the last Open Championship, winner of a full-point FedExCup event (Masters), qualifiers of the Tour Championship and placing inside the top 50 of the OWGR at the end of 2023.
Did you know?
The 29-year-old was the first champion since Sam Snead in 1952 to start his first round with a double bogey and go on to win.
Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed will drive up Magnolia Lane for the 11th time, in search of a second Green Jacket.
How did he qualify?
The American secured a maiden Major Championship at the 2018 edition thanks to a one-stroke win over Rickie Fowler to secure a lifetime exemption into the tournament. He would have also qualified after finishing in the top 12 and ties last year.
Did you know?
Reed’s share of fourth at the 2023 edition was his fourth top ten finish in the last six years at Augusta National.
Cameron Smith
The most famous mullet in golf arrives at at Augusta National for an eighth start, with Cameron Smith looking to add a Green Jacket to his Claret Jug.
How did he qualify?
Smith secured his spot in the Masters for the next five years after winning the Open Championship in 2022, with that exemption lasting for the next four Masters including next week’s edition. The Australian is also on the final year of his exemption for winning the 2022 Players Championship, while he would have also qualified by placing inside the top 50 of the OWGR at the end of 2023 and finishing inside the top four and ties at the last U.S. Open.
Did you know?
When Smith finished runner-up at the Masters Tournament in 2020, he became the first player in Masters history to record four rounds in the 60s in a single tournament.
Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs for the 16th time, with the American looking to add a third Green Jacket to his collection.
How did he qualify?
The American won the Masters Tournament in both 2012 and 2014 to ensure he receives an invitation into the tournament for the rest of his life. His victory in 2012 was the scene of one of the greatest shots in the tournament’s history after Watson played a spectacular 52-degree wedge shot from the trees on the second playoff hole on No. 10.
Did you know?
The 45-year-old is one of five left-handed Major champions, with Bob Charles, Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson and Brian Harman.
Charl Schwartzel
Charl Schwartzel returns to the Masters Tournament for the 15th time next week, 13 years after winning a Green Jacket.
How did he qualify?
As the 2011 champion, the South African receives a lifetime exemption into the first Major Championship of the year. His victory 13 years ago came exactly 50 years after fellow South African Gary Player became the first international champion in 1961.
Did you know?
The 39-year-old is one of three South Africans to win the Green Jacket, with three-time champion Player and 2008 champion Trevor Immelman.
Joaquin Niemann
One of the hottest golfers on planet golf right now, Joaquin Niemann is all set for his fifth Masters outing after making his debut as an amateur in 2018.
How did he qualify?
The Chilean received a special invitation from tournament organisers to compete at next month’s edition. The first Major Championship of the year has a long-standing tradition of inviting leading international players who are not otherwise exempt into the event, which came as a relief for Niemann who would have failed to qualify via other routes.
Did you know?
Niemann has three worldwide wins since December – one on the DP World Tour in Australia and two on the LIV Golf League in Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
