{"id":75086,"date":"2023-04-11T00:55:15","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T00:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/articles.runyourpool.com\/?p=75086"},"modified":"2023-04-11T00:55:17","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T00:55:17","slug":"liv-golf-after-the-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/04\/11\/liv-golf-after-the-masters\/","title":{"rendered":"LIV Golf After The Masters – What’s Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LIV Golf Converged at Augusta…And Made Their Mark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The year\u2019s first major championship came and went on golf\u2019s grandest stage, and the recently defected golfers of the LIV Tour knew this week was a moment to prove they still had world-class game and to shine. The spotlight couldn\u2019t have been brighter at Augusta as they were back playing in the same tournament as their PGA Tour counterparts. Admittedly, the media and golf fans alike stirred the pot of drama more ferociously than what exists in actuality, as all were punctual leading up to the start of tournament play. Whatever it was that got stirred up, it certainly garnered the best out of some LIV Tour players who had been otherwise quiet until they arrived at ANGC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All-in-all, it was a smashing success for Greg Norman and the LIV Golf brigade as they clashed for four days with the PGA Tour\u2019s elite and hung with them\u2026most of the way. Here\u2019s what The Masters week at Augusta meant for the LIV golf entourage of players, and what\u2019s next on their path to continue playing major championships in 2023 and years beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LIV Golf Favorites at The Masters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of the eighteen LIV Tour golfers that were still eligible via their past status and current world ranking which gets them at least <\/em>one more shot at a Green Jacket in 2023, TWELVE made the cut and played the weekend. That 66% made-cut percentage was a lot higher than many pundits forecasted and surprised many casual observers – it\u2019s an undeniable tip of the cap on baseline performance. Defending champion at The Open Cam Smith led LIV Tour member switch pre-tournament odds as low as 18\/1 – though he stumbled at times, he and 2020 champion Dustin Johnson (22\/1) both finished tied for 34th. It wasn\u2019t the mullet or the beard that excelled most for LIV golf representation – it was the brute that is Brooks Koepka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was giving off plenty of 2018 vibes early in the week as Koepka backed up his LIV Golf win in Orlando with a lightning-fast start out of the gate. He led a torrid peace with rounds of 65 and 67 and then sat in the clubhouse and the comforts of his AirBnB Friday as the weather rolled in. The same dejected Koepka who appeared on \u201cFull Swing\u201d yearning for one more shot at major championship glory certainly got it\u2026but he couldn\u2019t capture the ultimate goal on Sunday. Call it rust or major championship pressure, or the 54 vs 72-hole barrier that broke him, but the game fell off and it was a tie for second in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil the Thrill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So who joined Brooksy in second at The Masters? A 52-year-old Phil Mickelson, because of course he would. All week long as bettors weighed in on Augusta leading up to Thursday, there was nary a thought or even whisper of Phil playing well let alone contending the year\u2019s first major. The most infamous and outspoken LIV golf member started his week with a surprisingly quiet and demure showing at the Champions Dinner, and then let his clubs do the talking for the rest of the week. It was a rather sleepy start that had him peering at page one of the leaderboard from a distance, but that all changed quickly on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AP Photo\/David J. Phillip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After going out in two under par, he whistled home on the second nine in five under for a seven under par 65 that was fittingly capped with a birdie on 18. What followed was the biggest smile from Phil Mickelson in years – you could tell the man was at peace and thankful to be playing good golf again, especially on this stage. It\u2019s amazing how nine months of piss-poor golf on the LIV Tour can be wiped away with one gloriously memorable day at Augusta National. The legend of Phil the Thrill lives on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next up for the LIV Tour is a trip down under to Adelaide, Australia. As for when PGA Tour fans see them in action next, the PGA Championship beckons in May, and we can already begin to drum the Phil Mickelson U.S. Open hype for his seemingly never-ending quest for the career grand slam. From there, we wonder if official world golf ranking points will be doled out to LIV players or if an agreement is ever made with the big tour. Can Brooks Koepka make the Ryder Cup team on major performances alone? Questions aplenty as the LIV vs. PGA Tour drama rolls on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LIV Tidbits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While there were plenty of low highlights, the lowlights of the week were undoubtedly the EASY missed cuts and trunk slams for 2019 champion Sergio Garcia (+7) and 2012 + 2014 Champ Bubba Watson (+9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also a couple of curious injury withdrawals from Kevin Na and Louis Oosthuizen – maybe they just wanted the Pimiento Cheese and Peach Ice Cream Sandwiches really badly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CBS was notably light on any LIV Golf references whatsoever, although Jim Nantz wins the dad joke of the week for calling the crosswalk \u201cThe CW\u201d as Brooks Koepka passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cRight on the CW\u2026the crosswalk\u201d

Nantz has LIV jokes!? pic.twitter.com\/oIrVr1VbK4<\/a><\/p>— RunYourPool (@RunYourPool_) April 9, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>