PREVIEW: 18 LIV GOLF MEMBERS IN THE MASTERS

ABRAHAM ANCER

Masters starts: 3

Best result: T13 (2020)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T15/Mayakoba, T20/Tucson, T26/Orlando)

Outlook: Ancer won the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers in early February but has since cooled off since the LIV Golf League season began. One of his biggest strengths is hitting fairways – he ranks second in 2023 at 76.19% – but that pays little dividends at Augusta National.

Masters stat: Ancer has birdied the par-3 16th hole five times in 10 career rounds.

Ancer says: “I don't feel out of form. I didn't play my best in the last two events, but I think that was just more mental errors, not the game itself. So I feel like I've got to be in a good spot mentally here to do that, obviously to perform. But the game itself feels really nice.”

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU

Masters starts: 6

Best result: T21 (2016)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T23/Mayakoba, T44/Tucson, T16/Orlando)

Outlook: One of golf’s longest hitters, the Crushers GC captain ­– whose team won its first title to start the year in Mayakoba – has yet to get untracked in 2023. Putting has been a problem, as he ranks among the bottom five in putting average. DeChambeau’s best performance at Augusta National remains his first start when he took low amateur honors in 2016.

Masters stat: DeChambeau led the field in driving distance in 2020 (324.4-yard average) and was second in 2021 (323.6).

Says DeChambeau: “Last week [in Orlando] was very nice, I was progressing every single day and I felt like my putting was in a good spot, chipping was in a good spot, driving was in a good spot. I'm excited for this week.”

SERGIO GARCIA

Masters starts: 23

Best result: Win (2017)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T23/Mayakoba, T6/Tucson, 45/Orlando)

Outlook: The Fireballs GC captain broke through with his first major win at the 2017 Masters but missed the cut in his next three starts at Augusta National before finishing T23 last year. This year, he’s posted top 10s on the Asian Tour as well as the LIV Golf League’s tournament in Tucson. He ranks in the middle of the pack in all major statistical categories in 2023.

Masters stat: Garcia has ranked second in the field in GIR each of the last two times he’s made the cut.

Garcia says: “The game feels good. I'm obviously working on some things. This week obviously is going to be a good test, like every major and every Masters is. I like a lot some of the things I'm doing. It's just a matter of hopefully building some good momentum.”

TALOR GOOCH

Masters starts: 1

Best result: T14 (2022)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T11/Mayakoba, T13/Tucson, T16/Orlando)

Outlook: Gooch started the LIV Golf League season with two strong rounds and was the 36-hole co-leader in Mayakoba. He struggled on the final day but bounced back with six consecutive under-par rounds in the next two tournaments to re-establish his consistency. He ranks inside the top 15 in fairways hit, GIR and scrambling this season.

Masters stat: Gooch is 7 under on the front nine at Augusta National but 9 over on the back nine.

DUSTIN JOHNSON

Masters starts: 12

Best result: Win (2020)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T35/Mayakoba, T13/Tucson, 7/Orlando)

Outlook: Last year’s Individual Champion for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series has not been as dominant in the early stages of the 2023 League, but his first top 10 finish of the season in Orlando is a good sign, as he hit nearly 78% GIR. The putter has been his biggest issue, though as he’s ranked 40th this season in putting average. Still, it’s DJ. He can turn things around at any time – and he knows how to succeed in Augusta.

Masters stat: Johnson is 85 under on Augusta National’s par 5s and even par on the par 3s.

Says Johnson: “Obviously coming off an event last week, which is nice to be able to play, so the game's in pretty good form. So I'm really looking forward to this week.” 

BROOKS KOEPKA

Masters starts: 7

Best result: T2 (2019)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T27/Mayakoba, T20/Tucson, 1/Orlando)

Outlook: The four-time major winner comes in on a high note, having won in Orlando to become LIV Golf’s first two-time winner. Koepka also comes in healthy; he said the last time he was truly fit going into the Masters was 2019 when he tied for second behind Tiger Woods. Koepka has his irons dialed in – he’s hit 71% greens in regulation, which bodes well on a second-shot course.

Masters stat: Koepka led the field in driving distance in 2017 with an 302.5-yard average; two years later, he ranked third at 313.6 yards.

Koepka says: “I've been playing good for a while. It was nice to … kind of get rid of the mistakes that have kind of been plaguing me for a couple weeks. Playing really good. Like where my game's at.”

JASON KOKRAK

Masters starts: 3

Best result: T14 (2022)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (19/Mayakoba, T36/Tucson, T11/Orlando)

Outlook: In the field thanks to his top 50 world ranking at the end of 2022, Kokrak will look to improve on last year’s Masters performance, which was his best result in 22 major starts. Kokrak had entered the final round inside the top 10. He’s been one of LIV Golf’s top putters this season, ranking inside the top 10 in putting average.

Masters stat: Kokrak led the field last year in fairways hit at 82.1%.

Kokrak says: “I think the game has been trending, and I think if the putter cooperates, I think we're in for a good week.”

PHIL MICKELSON

Masters starts: 29

Best result: 1 (2004, 2006, 2010)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T27/Mayakoba, T30/Tucson, T41/Orlando)

Outlook: The HyFlyers GC captain is always a threat at Augusta National; along with his three wins, he has 12 other top 10s, his most recent coming in 2015 when he finished T2. He’s yet to finish inside the points (top 24) in the first three LIV Golf League tournaments in 2023 but has shown flashes of finding the form that won him the 2021 PGA Championship at age 50.

Masters stat: In 110 rounds at Augusta National, Mickelson is 81 under at the par-5 13th for a 4.26 stroke average.

Mickelson says: “I've got to be realistic. I haven't scored the way I want to, but I do see a lot of positive signs. I'm going to try to just be patient, whether it's this week or soon, because things are about to click.”

KEVIN NA

Masters starts: 11

Best result: T12 (2012, 2015, 2021)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (20/Mayakoba, T6/Tucson, T22/Orlando)

Outlook: The Iron Heads GC captain has finished top 15 the last three years at the Masters. Last year, he ranked first in the field at Augusta National in fairways hit and GIR. Through nine rounds of the 2023 LIV Golf League, Na ranks first in fewest putts. His T6 in Tucson was his best result in 10 regular season LIV Golf starts.

Masters stat: Na is 14 under on the final six holes in his 38 career rounds at Augusta National.

Na says: “I feel like you really need a good short game out here, and that's my strength of my game. I know where to miss it and what angles to play with the chipping and putting. I feel like even though I don't hit it as far, around the greens is kind of an equalizer for me out here.”

JOAQUIN NIEMANN

Masters starts: 3

Best result: T35 (2022)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T11/Mayakoba, T36/Tucson, T31/Orlando)

Outlook: The Torque GC captain comes off his team’s first win in Orlando, but his individual form has been spotty this season. He started 2023 with top 10s on the Asian Tour and played well in the final two days at the League’s season opener in Mayakoba, but he wasn’t able to build on that momentum in his next two starts. Niemann started last year’s Masters T3 after the first round before slipping down the leaderboard.

Masters stat: Niemann has ranked fifth in the field in driving distance average in each of the past two Masters.

Niemann says: “I don't think I've been playing my best for the last couple weeks. But I know that my game is kind of trending in the right direction. I just am trying to still keep being positive. I know that my game is going to show up any time. That's kind of exciting, too, just to have the right attitude until that moment.”

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

Masters starts: 14

Best result: 2 (2012)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T41/Mayakoba, T2/Tucson, T41/Orlando)

Outlook: The Stinger GC captain has been playing with a tendon tear in his left elbow yet was still competitive in Tucson, making the four-man playoff that was won by Danny Lee. His lone top 10 finish at Augusta National remains his playoff loss to Bubba Watson in 2012. That’s one of six runner-up finishes in majors by the South African to go with his 2010 Open Championship win.

Masters stat: Oosthuizen is 2 under for his 45-round career at Augusta National’s par-4 18th.

MITO PEREIRA

Masters starts: 0

Best result: N/A

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T15/Mayakoba, T6/Tucson, T5/Orlando)

Outlook: Qualified for his first Masters on the strength of his T3 at last year’s PGA Championship, the Chilean has been one of the League’s most consistent players since joining Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC team this year. Through three events, he leads the league in GIR at 75.31%, a good sign for navigating Augusta National.

Masters stat: Pereira will attempt to become just the second first-year player to win the Masters since 1936.

THOMAS PIETERS

Masters starts: 3

Best result: T4 (2017)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T32/Mayakoba, T33/Tucson, T16/Orlando)

Outlook: Pieters’ first Masters start remains his best result, a T4 in 2017 in which he shared the lead through 36 holes. That remains one of two top 10 finishes in 18 major starts for the Belgium star. Joining LIV Golf to start this year, Pieters come off his best result, as he found his putting stroke in Orlando.

Masters stat: Pieters is 1 under through holes 10-14 in his 8-round career at Augusta National.

PATRICK REED

Masters starts: 9

Best result: Win (2018)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T38/Mayakoba, T18/Tucson, T3/Orlando)

Outlook: The past Masters champ is trending in the right direction, having tied for third with three consecutive rounds of 4-under 67. Add his final-round 66 in Tucson, and Reed is 17 under for his last 72 holes while playing his last 29 holes bogey-free. His putter has heated up, as he ranked second in the field in fewest putts in Orlando. Since his win in 2018, Reed has posted two more top 10s at the Masters (T10 in 2020, T8 in 2021).

Masters stat: When Reed won the 2018 Masters, he was 13 under on the par 5s that week, two off the tournament record.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL

Masters starts: 13

Best result: Win (2011)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T35/Mayakoba, T46/Tucson, T16/Orlando)

Outlook: After emerging from the pack to win the 2011 Masters – eight players had a share of the lead at different points during the final round – Schwartzel was also impressive on the weekend in 2018, shooting consecutive 68s to eventually finish solo third. He comes off his best result of the LIV Golf League season, a T16 in Orlando fueled by a second-round 65.

Masters stat: Schwartzel finished the 2011 Masters with four consecutive birdies – the only major champion to ever accomplish that feat.

CAMERON SMITH

Masters starts: 6

Best result: T2 (2020)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T5/Mayakoba, T20/Tucson, T26/Orlando)

Outlook: The winner of the most recent major played, last year’s Open Championship at St Andrews, the Ripper GC captain enters the Masters with a sizzling recent track record at Augusta National – T2 in 2020, T10 in 2021 and T3 in 2022. Smith won in his second LIV Golf start last year in Chicago but has yet to contend on Sunday in the first three events this year. He ranks second in the league in putting this season but in the bottom 11 in fairways hit and GIR.

Masters stat: Smith is 26 under in his Masters career on the final six holes at Augusta National

Smith says: “It hasn't really been the nicest start for me. I had a big offseason in Australia and spent a lot of time with family and friend and just haven't quite got back to 100% yet. Like I said, I feel like this place is really comfy for me.”

HAROLD VARNER III

Masters starts: 1

Best result: T23 (2022)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (T27/Mayakoba, T20/Tucson, T16/Orlando)

Outlook: Varner will be seeking his first top 20 finish in a major, as his best performance remains his T23 at last year’s Masters. The 2023 LIV Golf League season has been one of slight improvement with each start for Varner. He started the week in Orlando with a bogey-free 66, his lowest score in nine rounds this year.

Masters stat: Varner ranked sixth in the field in putting in his lone Masters start in 2022.

Varner says: “I think the weather is going to be tough. Saturday is going to be tough. I remember I didn't play well last year when it was cold. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I get up for things that I feel like might not go my way, and that excites me. That's what I really love about golf.”

BUBBA WATSON

Masters starts: 14

Best result: Win (2012, 2014)

2023 LIV Golf League results: (40/Mayakoba, T20/Tucson, 40/Orlando)

Outlook: The Range Goats GC captain is still searching for his form after returning to action this year following knee surgery last summer. His play with the driver has been solid – he ranks top 5 in both driving distance and fairways hit – but his putter has been shaky. Since his last Masters win in 2014, Watson’s best result is a T5 in 2018.

Masters stat: Watson is 101 under on the par 5s in his 54 rounds at the Masters.

Watson says: “A lot of things go through your head when you have surgery. It's nice to be able to walk, especially with the way this place is. Nice to be able to hit shots, especially with the sidehill lies that we get.”

Photo credit: AP/Mark Baker