The Masters, a tradition like no other, is looming on the horizon. The first major championship of the year is always hotly anticipated, never more than 2025.
Will Scottie Scheffler become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to retain his title? Or can Rory McIlroy end an 11-year wait for a major championship – completing the career grand slam in the process – by finally triumphing at Augusta?
Like in 2024 and 2023, there will also be a few LIV Golf players competing at the Masters this year.
Joaquin Niemann received a special exemption for the second year running as he hopes to improve on his T16 finish from 2023.
It finally appears as though the breakaway circuit is making headway when it comes to their players securing qualification for the four majors.
In February, the R&A announced a new pathway which means the leading player who isn’t in the top five of the LIV standings following the final round of LIV Golf Dallas on June 29 will be given a space at the 153rd Open Championship.
This follows on from the U.S. Open becoming the first major to award a specific LIV exemption category. A player who isn’t already exempt in the top three of the LIV Golf individual standings by May 19 will secure a spot at Oakmont in June.
Only two LIV players have won majors since the tour was establish in 2022, Brooks Koepka (2023 PGA Championship) and Bryson DeChambeau (2024 U.S. Open) proved that it is possible for those on the Saudi-backed circuit to succeed in the biggest events.
With the Masters fast approaching, which LIV players will tee it up in Georgia this year?
The LIV Golf stars who will play at the Masters
Bryson DeChambeau
Best finish at Augusta: T6 in 2024
DeChambeau famously quipped that Augusta was “like a par-67 for me” ahead of the 2020 edition, but this comment didn’t exactly help his cause as he could only secure a T34 finish, before missing the cut in 2022 and 2023.
The current U.S. Open champion recorded an impressive T6 finish last year that set him up nicely for glory at Pinehurst No.2 in June.
Brooks Koepka
Best finish at Augusta: T2 in 2019 and 2023
With five major championships, Brooks Koepka is one of the best golfers of his generation, but he should already have a green jacket in his locker.
He had a great chance in 2019, but Tiger Woods rode the crest of a wave on the back nine at Augusta to secure a victory for the ages.
In 2023, the American led Jon Rahm by two shots after 54 holes – a feat that he had not failed to convert in three previous majors – but he shot a final round 75 to lose by four.
Can he claim a sixth major this week?
Sergio Garcia
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2017
Sergio Garcia is playing some of his best golf in years, recently claiming the LIV Golf Hong Kong individual title.
The Spaniard ended his long wait for a major title in 2017, overcoming Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National on the same day that Seve Ballesteros would have turned 60.
He hasn’t come close at any of the majors since, but given his recent form, he might have an outside chance this year.
Jon Rahm
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2023
Jon Rahm became the fourth Spainard to win the green jacket after Ballesteros (1980 and 1983), Jose Maria Olazabal (1994 and 1999) and Garcia (2017) with victory in 2023.
He won by four strokes from Koepka after an impressive final round, but Rahm could only finish T45 last year at Augusta.
Phil Mickelson
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2004, 2006 and 2010
Even the ardent Phil Mickelson supporter will have written him off before the Masters this year, but he did shoot a final round 65 to seal a T2 finish just two years ago.
He did finish third at the recent LIV Hong Kong event and his prior record at Augusta will come in handy compared to others, having won the event three times.
Joaquin Niemann
Best finish at Augusta: T16 in 2023
Joaquin Niemann is the most consistent player on the LIV Golf circuit right now. Two wins from his opening four events has vaulted him to the top of the individual standings.
Indeed, since February 2024, the Chilean has won four events on the breakaway tour, yet his best major finish was a T22 at the Masters.
Should he get off to a hot start this year, Niemann could emerge as a contender.
Dustin Johnson
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2020
Dustin John took advantage of the benign conditions during the 2020 edition – which was moved to November – in order to claim his first green jacket.
Given his talent, there is no doubt that the American should have won more throughout his career, but it appears as though he is resigned to making as much money as possible on the LIV tour.
Tyrrell Hatton
Best finish at Augusta: T9 in 2024
Tyrrell Hatton recorded a top ten finish at the 2024 Masters, his best ever showing at the event.
Despite emerging as one of the finest European golfers, making the Ryder Cup team in 2018, 2021 and 2023, Hatton has failed to bring his best to the major championships.
Across 38 majors, the Englishman has recorded just six top-ten finishes.
Patrick Reed
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2018
Patrick Reed won the Masters in 2018, fending off Rory McIlroy in the final round to win his maiden major championship.
Since joining LIV Golf in 2022, Reed’s best finish in a major was at the 2023 Masters, when a final round 68 secured him a T4 finish.
Charl Schwartzel
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2011
The 2011 Masters will be best remembered for McIlroy blowing a healthy lead on Sunday, but Charl Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to seal his first major championship.
3rd in 2017 and T10 in 2022 are his best results at Augusta since his triumph 14 years ago.
Cameron Smith
Best finish at Augusta: T2 in 2020
Cameron Smith is exempt for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 Masters courtesy of his Open Championship victory in 2022.
His best finish at the first major of the year is a T2 effort in 2020, although he trailed five shots behind Johnson in the end.
Bubba Watson
Best finish at Augusta: Winner in 2012 and 2014
Bubba Watson’s victories in 2012 and 2014 means he can play the Masters for as long as he likes.
His form since joining LIV has been poor, however. He finished 36th in the individual standings in 2023, dropping to 53rd last year, failing to register a single top-ten finish across 13 events.
