Last year, 18 LIV Golf stars were eligible for The Masters. Among them were Abraham Ancer, Kevin Na, Harold Varner III, Mito Pereira, Talor Gooch, Thomas Pieters, Jason Kokrak and Louis Oosthuizen.
However, none of those eight will be appearing in 2024, meaning that, despite the arrivals of Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk at LIV Golf, who are all qualified, the number is down to 13 this year – and that’s a trend that seems likely to continue without a change to the world ranking criteria.
LIV Golf players have generally suffered damaging drops in their world rankings because the League can’t offer the points.
That isn’t a concern to some, including former Masters champions Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, who have lifetime exemptions thanks to their wins. Elsewhere, players including Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka are also safe for some time thanks to their recent victories at other Majors.
However, with players needing to be in the top 50 either the week before the end of this year or the week before next year’s Augusta National Major to qualify via the world rankings route, that leaves three who are in this year’s field wondering how they will ensure a return in 2025. Here are the trio already looking over their shoulders…
Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton is likely to drop out of the world’s top 50 before next year’s tournament
(Image credit: Getty Images)
As one of the players who qualified for last season’s Tour Championship on the PGA Tour, Hatton has been assured of his place at The Masters since August, but it might not be quite so straightforward in 2025.
Now that he has signed for LIV Golf, The Legion XIII player won’t be able to take that route again this year as he’s suspended from the PGA Tour. That also counts out his chance of qualifying by winning a PGA Tour event between now and next year’s Major.
There are other ways he could secure a place, with winning The Masters being his best as it would qualify him for life.
A win at any of the other three Majors (various other criteria including a high enough world ranking mean Hatton could appear at all four this year) would also book his place for the next five years, while finishing in the top four of any of the other three Majors would also earn him a spot…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly…