A group of 13 LIV Golf stars headed to Augusta National for the 2024 Masters but five of those saw their week end after just 36 holes after finding themselves on the wrong side of the cut line
It was a week to forget for a group of LIV Golf stars at the Masters, as five of the 13 members from the breakaway circuit competing at Augusta National missed the 36-hole cut.
LIV’s representation at the opening major championship of the season is limited this season, amid the Saudi-backed circuit’s lack of inclusion in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Seven of the 13 in action this week were returning past champions, including 2023 green jacket winner Jon Rahm.
Three others in Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith booked their places at Augusta this week thanks to major wins elsewhere in the past five years, whilst Adrian Meronk and Tyrrell Hatton qualified via the world rankings.
Joaquin Niemann proved to be the anomaly of the group having been handed a special invite to compete by Augusta National after bursting into form in recent months. Niemann took full advantage of his invite, having booked his place for the weekend and battled his way into contention.
The same can not be said for a number of others though, and here is a look at the five LIV stars who are heading home early on Friday.
Dustin Johnson (+13)
Dustin Johnson headed into this week’s Masters as one of LIV’s best chances of keeping hold of the green jacket, however it proved to be a nightmare return for the 2020 champion. The form that saw him win the title for the first time four years earlier was nowhere to be seen on day one and two, carding a dismal 13-over-par across his two rounds.
Adrian Meronk (+14)
Adrian Meronk booked his place at Augusta on merit, having broke into the world’s top-50 at the end of 2023, two months before his move to LIV Golf. The Polish star, who was voted DP World Tour Player of The Year in January, has struggled to find his best form on the breakaway circuit so far, and it was more of the same at Augusta.
Meronk did himself no favours on day one, after making eight bogeys and just two birdies across his opening 18 holes to sit at six-over-par for the tournament. He knew he needed to get himself in the red on Friday to make the weekend, but more frustration followed, after finishing his week with an eight-over 80.
Bubba Watson (+10)
Not many know Augusta National better than Bubba Watson, having won the green jacket on two occasions during his career. He will have to wait for No. 3 though, as he followed up an opening two-over-par 74 in round one with an eight-over 80 on Friday to cut his stay in Georgia short.
Charl Schwartzel (+11)
Another past champion from the LIV setup is Charl Schwartzel, but like Watson he too endured a return to Augusta National to forget. There were some bright patches during his opening round, as he carded three birdies on the bounce at 12 13 and 14 to get some momentum going.
Sergio Garcia (+7)
The third and final past champion who failed to book his place over the weekend was 2017 green jacket winner Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard enjoyed a solid start to his week on Thursday, after carding a level-par 72 in round one. Things however fell apart late on Friday though, as five bogeys and a double bogey across his last eight holes in round two saw him tumble down the leaderboard and miss the cut by a single shot.
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