Bryson DeChambeau of the United States looks on while playing the 13th hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

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Tyler Erzberger

By Tyler Erzberger

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Since its founding in 2022, LIV Golf and the PGA Tour have been archrivals on courses across the globe.

Players leaving overnight to grab millions of dollars to play for LIV. The promise to take down the PGA Tour. Players believe that they are the cream of the crop compared to the old ways of the PGA.

And through the first year or two, some of that may have run true. However, as the years have gone by, the PGA has regained its power in the rivalry.

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Now, LIV players are jumping back over the line in the sand, taking back the words they publicly spoke against the PGA just a short time ago.

And on Thursday, the PGA got another massive win, as the group of LIV golfers participating in the 2026 Masters got off to a terrible start in Augusta, with not a single player below par after the first round.

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MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 12: Jon Rahm of Spain waits to play on day four of the Open de España presented by Madrid 2025 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on October 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

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More news: Bryson DeChambeau Falls as a Favorite on Eve of the Masters

Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm were seen as two of the major favorites to win the entire tournament alongside reigning champion Rory McIlroy and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

And while the defending champion is atop the leaderboard following day one with five shots below par, with Scheffler right behind him, Ram, DeChambeau, and the rest of the top LIV golfers are nowhere to be found.

"Perhaps playing low quality courses with weak competition has something to do with it," posted a Masters viewer on social media about LIV's struggles.

"I think at the end of the day, they just don't compete at the highest level like the PGA tour players do," chimed in another fan. "And it shows on the biggest stages here in the Masters."

"Well, LIV is a weak tour," theorized another viewer on X. "There’s minimal competition [with] maximum reward. Little incentive to work as hard as you can to earn a win. Courses are easier [with] simple setups designed for scoring. These guys hurt themselves, it took time to fully show up, but here we are."

While the LIV team will try to bounce back on Friday, it will be difficult. Since 2005, only two golfers, Tiger Woods and McIlroy, have started the tournament outside the top 10 and gone on to win the whole thing on Sunday.

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