Much was made of the LIV golfers at this year's Masters.
Do they play 'real' golf? Will they be rusty having played fewer tournaments? Just how badly affected have they been by missing out on the likes of Riviera, Bay Hill, TPC Sawgrass and Austin Country Club?
Well, as I said earlier in the week, it's ridiculous to rule them out. Masters week saw some of them play badly - six of the 18 missed the cut - as well as two of them withdrawing, but a LIV player nearly won The Masters with two of them finishing T2nd behind Jon Rahm.
Brooks Koepka held the 54-hole lead but a poor display on Sunday afternoon saw him overtaken and left behind by Rahm. A sensational 65 from Phil Mickelson tied him at eight-under-par, with Koepka eventually signing for a closing 75.
Cameron Smith rallied the LIV troops pre-tournament by saying they need to play well, and the Aussie, Champion Golfer of the Year at St Andrews last July, looked like he was going to do his part with a two-under-par 70 on Thursday but his challenge fell away over the final three days.
A total of four LIV players finished under par, with 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed posting an impressive T4th finish at seven-under and Joaquin Niemann at two-under in T16th.
There were 18 LIV players in the field starting the week, but only 16 completed two weather-delayed rounds after Kevin Na withdrew following his front nine due to illness and Louis Oosthuizen also withdrew on Saturday. An impressive 12 LIV players made the Masters cut.
Take a look at the final LIV Golf leaderboard below to see how they got on in the 87th Masters...
LIV Players' scores at the 2023 Masters:
- -8 Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson (T2)
- -7 Patrick Reed (T4)
- -2 Joaquin Niemann (T16)
- +1 Harold Varner III (T29)
- +4 Cameron Smith, Talor Gooch (T34)
- +5 Abraham Ancer (T39)
- +6 Mito Pereira (T43)
- +8 Thomas Pieters, Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel (T48)
- MISSED THE CUT:
- +4 Bryson DeChambeau
- +7 Sergio Garcia
- +8 Jason Kokrak
- +9 Bubba Watson
- WD Kevin Na, Louis Oosthuizen
-
Australian Professional Gets LIV Golf Adelaide Call-UpWade Ormsby will tee it up in his home city of Adelaide for the LIV Golf event, with the Australian making a second straight start as injury cover for Iron Heads GC
-
'If Golf Truly Wants To Be Inclusive, We Don’t Just Need Diverse Faces In Ads, We Need Boots On The Ground Actively Educating Families On Where And How They Can Start Playing'Coach Shayain has experienced first-hand the barriers that minority golfers face, but the sport is ready for a shift and she's helping to lead the way
-
'I Don't Think I Could Have Won The PGA Without Blowing The Masters' - Brooks Koepka Believes Augusta 'Choke' Can Fuel Quest For Double-Digit MajorsSpeaking to LIV Golf's Rick Shiels in a match on YouTube, Kopeka revealed how he dealt with defeat at the 2023 Masters and how it helped him land Major No.5
-
Dropped LIV Golfer Leads International Series India As Bryson DeChambeau Has Eventful DebutIn his first event back after his controversial LIV Golf exit, Eugenio Chacarra leads the way in India - where Bryson DeChambeau had an eventful debut
-
How To Watch Bryson DeChambeau At The International Series India: Live Streams, TV ChannelsHere is all the information you need to watch Bryson DeChambeau and Joaquin Niemann at the Asian Tour's inaugural International Series India.
-
Bryson DeChambeau Spotted With New Unique Irons Ahead Of India DebutThe US Open champion arrived in India ahead of the International Series event with what appeared to be some prototype LA Golf irons in the golf bag
-
Phil Mickelson Gives His Verdict On LIV Golf's TV DealPhil Mickelson says LIV Golf is the only global golf brand as he celebrated the big TV deal with FOX Sports he hopes will help the team golf tour really kick on
-
Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf Team Signs With Grant Horvat’s Apparel CompanyPrimo - partially owned by influencer, Grant Horvat - has been designated as the “official golf apparel sponsor” of Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC
-
'A Less Threatening Image' - Rahm Backs New CEO To Have Positive Impact On LIV FutureJon Rahm feels a change of LIV Golf CEO may help smooth over any talks about the future as there was "a little too much bad blood" between Greg Norman and the PGA Tour
-
How Jon Rahm And Other LIV Stars Can Play DP World Tour Events In 2025LIV Golf stars Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Sergio Garcia will all be teeing it up on the DP World Tour this year, but why are they allowed? We take a look
