Which LIV Golf players are at The Masters? Are Jon Rahm, Bryson Dechambeau, Phil Mickelson playing as Rory McIlroy defends title?
Published 09/04/2026 at 14:45 GMT+1
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The Masters - the first major championship of the golf season - gets underway on Thursday as the sport's elite go head-to-head at Augusta National. And LIV Golf is set to be well-represented with a number of title hopefuls looking to wrestle the green jacket away from Rory McIlroy, who produced a historic victory 12 months ago to complete his career Grand Slam.
‘Tough test’ – McIlroy gearing up for ‘mental grind’ at firm and fast Augusta
Video credit: TNT Sports
Augusta National will once again host the cream of the golfing crop with the 90th iteration of the iconic Masters getting underway on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy is the holder of the green jacket following his historic victory 12 months ago, a triumph which finally sealed his career Grand Slam - and arguably the greatest achievement of his storied career.
The Northern Irishman is in line to defend his title, and vying for the champion's berth will be 10 LIV Golf players hoping to make history as the first to win The Masters after moving away from the PGA Tour.
Upon the launch of LIV Golf in 2022, there was uncertainty regarding future Masters participation for those who left the PGA Tour to join the lucrative breakaway competition.
Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Phil Mickelson were among the previous Masters champions to join LIV Golf in the league's early life at the pinnacle of the elite golf calendar, and it was confirmed in December 2022 that they would be allowed to compete at Augusta National the following year.
Past winner exemptions, top-12 finishes at the previous Masters, and recent major titles remain the primary route to receiving an invite for the prestigious Augusta event - and LIV Golf will once again be well represented.
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Highlights: DeChambeau beats Rahm in play-off
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ten players will tee off on Thursday, one short of the 11 that received an invitation, after three-time Masters champion Mickelson announced his withdrawal last week.
"Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week, and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter," he wrote on social media.
"I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club, and it is definitely the most special week of the year. I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching."
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So which LIV Golf stars will be lining up for the 2026 Masters?
Jon Rahm
Masters champion in 2023, Jon Rahm has a lifetime exemption for the first major of the golf season - and will be among the favourites to become the first player representing LIV Golf to claim the green jacket.
Rahm finally returned to the pinnacle after 18 months without a win when he won the Hong Kong event last month - building up an impressive head of steam after back-to-back runners-up finishes to start the season.
Bryson DeChambeau
Eyeing a third major, Bryson DeChambeau will look to improve upon his T6 and T5 finishes at the 2024 and 2025 Masters, respectively - and he has shown encouraging signs in the LIV Golf campaign so far.
Winning in Singapore and South Africa, DeChambeau has showcased his credentials as a serious challenger among the wider field - his putting game in particular looking in strong shape.
Sergio Garcia
Another with a lifetime exemption at Augusta National, 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia has struggled to compete at the top end in the opening months of the LIV Golf campaign.
But the Fireballs GC captain put in his best performance of the campaign in Hong Kong just last month, which will give him some encouragement.
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'Unfortunate bounce' - Garcia shot hits pin
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tyrrell Hatton
Englishman Tyrrell Hatton is hunting a maiden major championship at the 2026 Masters. With two top-10 finishes behind him in Augusta, there is every chance he can contend.
But with an up-and-down start to the LIV Golf season, blighted by error-strewn putting, it would require something of a turnaround.
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith has proven himself an effective operator on the greens of Augusta, with five top-10 finishes and a finish as joint runner-up in 2020.
Having gone two full seasons without a victory, Smith does not come into the 2026 Masters on a rich run of form - but that does not count for everything.
Dustin Johnson
A Masters winner in 2020, and with another four top-10 finishes to his name, Dustin Johnson is considered among the greats in Augusta - but he comes into this year's competition off the back of some unwanted and uncharacteristic struggles.
Off the tee, Johnson has been nowhere near his ball-striking best. But such is his immense prior success on the Augusta course, he cannot be ruled out.
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‘What a hideous break’ – Johnson clatters flag from the tee
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Carlos Ortiz
Mexican Carlos Ortiz is set to make his second start at the Masters, his first since a missed cut in the 2021 edition.
With some strong showings in the opening months of the LIV Golf season, and his encouraging T4 finish at last year's US Open, there is plenty of hope he will at least make it to the weekend.
Tom McKibbin
Tom McKibbin is lining up for his Masters debut. Those before him have shown a maiden appearance at Augusta National presents sizeable challenges, and how he tackles those will make for interesting viewing.
Charl Schwartzel
A former winner in 2011, Charles Schwartzel knows what it takes to be successful on the biggest stage. He appeared to be nursing a back issue as his team fell just short of the title in his home competition in South Africa - raising questions over how he will fare at the Masters.
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'I have sometimes made it really hard' - DeChambeau reflects on victory
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Bubba Watson
A two-time Masters champion, Bubba Watson has not managed to showcase any sort of dominant form in the LIV Golf season thus far, with a best finish of 28th in the opening five rounds.
How to watch LIV Golf Mexico City
It is a quick turnaround as LIV Golf returns on April 16 for the sixth round of the season in Mexico City.
TNT Sports and its streaming platform HBO Max will broadcast every global event from the 2026 LIV Golf season.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through HBO Max, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
LIV Golf 2026 schedule
The LIV Golf 2026 season sees 12 events played between February and August, with the remaining dates and schedule below.
- April 16-19 – LIV Golf Mexico City, Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico
- May 7-10 – LIV Golf Virginia presented by Maaden, Trump National DC, USA
- June 4-7 – LIV Golf Andalucia, Real Club Valderrama, Spain
- June 25-28 – LIV Golf Louisiana, Bayou Oaks at City Park, USA
- July 23-26 – LIV Golf UK by JCB, JCB Golf and Country Club, Great Britain
- August 20-23 – LIV Golf Indianapolis, The Club at Chatham Hills, USA
- August 27-30 – Aramco LIV Golf Michigan, The Cardinal at Saint John’s, US
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