The 12 LIV golfers playing Masters including star who received special invite

The wait is over and the Masters has arrived. Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa are among the favourites for the competition, though the LIV Golf contingent will be keen to leave their mark on the event.

Jon Rahm is part of a 12-player group that will compete at Augusta, and each has varying chances of success over the coming days. Express Sport takes a look at the 12 LIV Golfers…

Jon Rahm

The Spaniard is one of the few players to have enjoyed success at Augusta previously, having landed the spoils in 2023. Rahm finished 45th place though at last year’s event and will need to improve markedly if he is to still have a live chance on Sunday.

Bryson DeChambeau

Following his US Open success, DeChambeau arrives in great form – and he could be well-supported on course after growing a loyal following on YouTube. The 31-year-old finished sixth last year, and there is every chance that he can build on that display this week.

Bubba Watson

The two-time Masters winner will need to bounce back to form if he is to have a chance of making it a hat-trick of victories at Augusta. Watson has struggled in his last few LIV Golf events and will need to lean on the experience of his past 16 starts in the competition.

Charl Schwartzel

Schwartzel only has one major success to his name, though that victory did come in the Masters. The 40-year-old held his nerve when battling it out with Tiger Woods and McIlroy to take the green jacket, despite failing to break into the top 10 at a major prior.

Dustin Johnson

Although struggling in recent years, Johnson is another to have a Masters win to his name. The 2016 US Open was victorious in 2020 but has missed the cut twice since that success.

Phil Mickelson

The three-time Masters winner continues to divide golf fans both on and off the court. He hasn’t been at his very best recently, but his joint-second-place finish behind Rahm in 2023 served as a reminder of how the American can produce his very best golf at Augusta.

Tyrrell Hatton

The Englishman posted his best Masters finish last year when breaking into the top 10, and he will be keen to build on that this week. If he is able to keep his emotions under control, he certainly has an outsider’s chance.

Sergio Garcia

Garcia arrives with a point to prove as he continues to aim for a spot in the Ryder Cup. The Spaniard won the Masters in 2017, and a second success in the event would put him in the frame to make the cut – especially after his LIV tour win earlier this year.

Patrick Reed

The 2018 Masters winner seems to save his very best performances for Augusta, having finished in the op 12 in five of the past seven years. Another 15-under par performance would put the pressure on the favourites in the competition.

Cameron Smith

Another with a great record at the event is Smith, who has finished in the top 10 in five of his eight visits. He has struggled for form since joining LIV Golf though and will be hoping a return to familiar surroundings will help him bounce back.

Joaquin Niemann

For the second consecutive year, Niemann has been the recipient of a special invite to compete at Augusta. The Chilean has won two LIV events this year and arrives with strong form to his name.

Brooks Koepka

Koepka is one of the few not to have claimed a green jacket previously, though he has come within touching distance of achieving such a feat. His second-place finishes in 2019 and 2023 catch the eye, and he will be hoping to go one better this week.