Author: Alexandra Caspers

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These LIV golfers will compete at the US Masters 2025 in Augusta

These LIV golfers will compete at the US Masters 2025 at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Getty)
These LIV golfers will compete at the US Masters 2025 at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Getty)

For players who joined the LIV Golf League, qualifying for Major championships has become increasingly difficult. Since they do not receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points in their own league and are banned from participating in PGA Tour events, there are limited opportunities for LIV players to secure a spot in the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.

However, both the USGA and The R&A have responded to this challenge by creating explicit qualifying paths for LIV players, allowing them easier access to the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. Their reasoning? They want to ensure that the best golfers in the world are represented in their fields.

The first Major of the year, though, is the Masters – traditionally the most exclusive of the four Majors, with a limited field of around 90 players invited annually to compete at Augusta National Golf Club. There is no direct qualification path for LIV Golf players, yet 12 LIV golfers will once again be part of the Masters field in 2025.

One group of players that will always have a place at Augusta is the Masters champions. Former winners receive a lifetime invitation to the event. This includes Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, and Bubba Watson. Other LIV players qualified by winning one of the other three Majors in recent years – Bryson DeChambeau (U.S. Open 2024), Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship 2023), and Cameron Smith (The Open 2022). Tyrrell Hatton may not yet have a Major title, but he finished inside the top 12 at the 2024 Masters, earning him an automatic return. He is also currently ranked inside the world’s top 50, another standard route for qualification. Joaquin Niemann, while not officially qualified through traditional categories, received a special invitation from Augusta National due to his exceptional performances, similar to last year.

All LIV Golfers Competing at the 2025 US Masters:

  • Bryson DeChambeau
  • Tyrrell Hatton
  • Brooks Koepka
  • Cameron Smith
  • Dustin Johnson
  • Sergio Garcia
  • Phil Mickelson
  • Jon Rahm
  • Patrick Reed
  • Charl Schwartzel
  • Bubba Watson
  • Joaquin Niemann

Also worth mentioning is Laurie Canter, a former LIV player. He was still listed as a reserve early in 2024 but later left the league entirely. Since then, he’s been able to play events like The Players Championship, having qualified through strong performances on the DP World Tour. His current position inside the world’s top 50 also earned him a spot at the 2025 US Masters.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Player deliberately hinders leading flight

(Screenshot: Instagram/@Skratch)
(Screenshot: Instagram/@Skratch)

Alejandro Tosti started together with Min Woo Lee and Ryan Fox in the final flight of the PGA Tour’s Houston Open, but seemed very unhappy with his two playing partners.

Tosti clashed with Ryan Fox on the very first hole when Tosti took his time to drop his ball, reported course reporter Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay. A few holes later, however, the situation turned around: Min Woo Lee’s tee shot on hole 8, a par-5, landed under a bush. After the ball was found, it took Lee seven minutes to play it after considering various options, including hitting the ball on his knees. In the end, he decided to declare the ball unplayable. It took the flight a total of 30 minutes to complete just this one hole.

Tosti: Slow play in protest

Tosti then appeared to complain to a rules official about Lee’s pace of play. However, when no consequences followed, the Argentinian took matters into his own hands and seemingly deliberately played slowly to hold off the final flight and Lee, who was fighting for victory. A video from the broadcast shows Tosti just stepping on the fairway while Lee had almost reached his ball. At this point, Tosti himself was seven shots behind Lee at the top, with no chance of victory.

PGA Tour: Scheffler und McIlroy in Top 10 bei Min Woo Lees Sieg
 
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‘I don’t know what’s going on, but Tosti plays at his own pace,’ Mackay described the scene. ‘Sometimes it’s normal. Sometimes it’s glacially slow. But on this particular hole, he’s decided to really take his time, and he’s holding up play in this last group.’

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Highlights Tours

The Masters: Rory McIlroy plays practice round in Augusta

Rory McIlroy play practice round in Augusta ahead of The Masters tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy play practice round in Augusta ahead of The Masters tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)

For Rory McIlroy, this week is all about preparing for the Masters 2025. The week began for him with a practice round at Augusta National on Monday and his start at the Houston Open is also a strategy to get into top form and finally secure the Green Jacket.

Rory McIlroy on a practice round at Augusta National

‘It’s nice for me to play a practice round without people around and it sort of takes the pressure off the week for me,’ said McIlroy, who took his time to look round Augusta National Golf Club. In addition to the usual benefits of a practice round, this appointment also served to explore possible changes as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. In September 2024, the storm caused devastating damage in the south-east of the USA and the community of Augusta and Augusta National Golf Club were also affected. The impact on the venue of the Masters was largely limited to a few fallen trees and the resulting damage to the golf course, while the surrounding population was significantly more affected.

Four greens had been redone, McIlroy reported of his findings, including that of the 16th fairway, where two of the trees had fallen. ‘The loss of a few trees is definitely noticeable but in terms of, they’ve had to redo that green [the 16th], it’s exactly the same as what it was,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘The hole will play – apart from a few less shadows on the green late in the day because of the trees that were lost – pretty much the same.’

Rory McIlroy’s Masters preparation

McIlroy used the two weeks of privacy before the first major to familiarise himself with the course again in peace, as there is always a lot of hustle and bustle during the week of the tournament. ‘There are a lot of obligations, there are big commitments whether it be from media or the par-three tournament on Wednesday, so I just like to get up there and feel like I’m not rushed on the Tuesday, Wednesday the week of the tournament.’ In the past, McIlroy has tried a number of strategies to optimise his preparation, including avoiding as much of the pre-tournament hustle and bustle as possible. There were years when he avoided events such as the Par 3 Contest as well as participating in tournaments shortly before the Major. He seems to be taking a different approach this year, as his start at the Houston Open two weeks before the Masters shows.

But even though this week should help him to optimise his game, he is not just thinking about the Masters. ‘It’s not as if I’m playing here this week and thinking about two weeks’ time. I’m here, I’m in the present, I’m trying to do my best this week and trying to win this golf tournament.’

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Angela Stanford Named Captain for 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup Team

Angela Stanford will be Solheim Cup captain for Team USA at the 2026 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Angela Stanford will be Solheim Cup captain for Team USA at the 2026 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

After three turns as an assistant captain, Angela Stanford will take the helm of her first U.S. Solheim Cup Team in 2026. Stanford, a six-time veteran of the American squad, will captain the top 12 American female golfers as they represent their country at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, from Sept. 11-13, 2026.

Solheim Cup 2026: Angela Stanford will be captain

“I’m extremely grateful to be named the next American captain for the Solheim Cup and join a list of my heroes in the game. I’ve always believed that I represent more than myself on the LPGA Tour, and there is no greater honor than representing your country,” said Stanford. “I consider this the pinnacle of my career, and I’m looking forward to leading our players to the Netherlands in 2026.

“Angela Stanford will certainly be a wonderful captain for the U.S. Team at the 2026 Solheim Cup,” said Interim LPGA Commissioner Liz Moore. “Angela has always been a spark on and off the course, a true leader and a dedicated partner to her teammates. It’s now her time to take the helm of the U.S. Team, and I have no doubt that she will lead her squad to a successful week in the Netherlands.”

Stanford retired in 2024 after a 23-year LPGA Tour career. She has seven LPGA Tour victories, earning her first major title at the 2018 Amundi Evian Championship in her 18th season on Tour. Stanford has also won the 2023 and 2024 Senior LPGA Championships.

She competed in 98 consecutive major championships from 2002 to 2024, second only to Jack Nicklaus for consecutive majors played in professional golf.

Stanford has competed in six Solheim Cups, representing the USA in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. In 2015, Stanford earned the winning point for the U.S. Team with her 2-and-1 victory over Suzann Pettersen. She then served as an assistant captain in 2021 under Captain Pat Hurst, and again in 2023 and 2024 under Captain Stacy Lewis.

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Stanford was a four-year All-American at Texas Christian University, where she won nine collegiate tournaments. She is a 2000 TCU graduate with a degree in Speech Communications and is enshrined in the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Off the course, Stanford runs the Angela Stanford Foundation, which provides scholarships to kids in her native Texas whose families have fallen victim to breast cancer. Stanford works in honor of her mother, Nan, who battled the disease for 13 years before her death in 2022.

Information on ticket options and prices for the 2026 Solheim Cup is available at www.solheimcup2026.golf. Anna Nordqvist was recently announced as captain for the 2026 European Solheim Cup Team.

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Adventures in Golf: Searching for dinosaurs

(Screenshot: Youtube.com/skratch)
(Screenshot: Youtube.com/skratch)

The search for the ‘wildest island golf’ draws Erik Anders Lang to Kauai, the oldest of Hawaii’s main islands and one of the wettest places in the world. With its wild tropical vegetation, the island has been the location for several films, including the Jurassic Park series. On his way across the island’s golf courses, Lang doesn’t encounter any dinosaurs, but he does meet their descendants, lots and lots of chickens.

Adventures in Golf: Jurassic Golf in Hawaii

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Golf training: Tiger Woods gives important tips for the draw

(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Getty)

Even a superstar like Tiger Woods has to adapt with increasing age and all kinds of health problems. In a short video on GolfDigest’s X-Channel (formerly Twitter), the now 49-year-old explains how he manages a consistent draw off the tee despite dwindling mobility. Tiger achieves the right-left curve (for right-handers) by adjusting the target line and the feeling of closing the shoulders slightly compared to the target.

Watch the video for more on Tiger Woods’ draw tips

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More data, better decisions: Arccos Gen 4 adds new tracking features

(Photo: Arccos)
(Photo: Arccos)

The introduction of the Arccos Gen 4 Smart Sensors could take digital tracking in golf to a new level. Arccos, the world’s leading on-course tracking system and official game tracker of the PGA Tour, has not only modernised its game interface, but also introduced a sophisticated mapping system. These innovations could help golfers to analyse their game even more precisely and improve it more effectively.

The new Arccos Gen 4 Smart Sensors

The new Gen 4 Smart Sensors, which are available in the colour variants ‘Green’ and ‘Smoke’, offer numerous advantages. These include a revised, intuitive in-play design, which is intended to make it easier to access relevant game data. High-resolution 2D and 3D maps with zoom function enable detailed navigation on the course. The system is complemented by an improved AI range finder that can calculate distances based on various factors.

The Gen 4 Smart Sensors (RRP: $249.99) will be available from 18 February (Green) and 18 March (Smoke). Key features upon purchase include: 16 sensors (two extras to allow seamless swapping of clubs in/out of the bag), an annual free sensor replacement programme (to ensure members always have sensors for every club and all situations) and access to exclusive benefits from Arccos and its brand partners.

With over 1.2 billion strokes recorded and an immense database, Arccos could be considered an indispensable tool for ambitious golfers. Professionals such as Matthew Fitzpatrick, Edoardo Molinari and Erik Anders Lang are already using the system to optimise their game. By combining artificial intelligence and real-time data analysis, Arccos offers one of the most advanced solutions in golf for improving strategic decisions and enhancing performance.

(Photo: Arccos)

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TGL: Tiger Woods and perhaps the ‘most embarrassing moment’ of his golf career

Tiger Woods' mistake brings laughter for Kisner and Kim. (Screenshot: TGL)
Tiger Woods' mistake brings laughter for Kisner and Kim. (Screenshot: TGL)

Tiger Woods took his Jupiter Links Golf Club to the TGL for the third time on Tuesday. It was against the New York Golf Club, against whom Tiger’s team suffered a crushing defeat in the course of the evening. Woods will remember one moment in particular, however, which he described afterwards as ‘one of the most embarrassing moments’ of his career.

Embarrassing mistake by Tiger Woods

Before hitting his shot, Woods asked the caddie for the distance. The caddie told him ‘99’, but meant 199 yards, because nowadays caddies often drop the hundredth digit when the distance is obvious. On the simulator, however, this doesn’t seem to be as obvious as the caddie thought, because Woods heard 99 yards and reached for his sand wedge. His team-mates Kevin Kisner and Tom Kim were still wondering what the 15-time major winner was up to. Of course, his shot fell well short. ‘I messed it up,’ said Woods afterwards. ‘That was embarrassing.’ Kisner and Kim could only laugh their heads off.

 
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New York Golf Club dominated Jupiter Links 10-3 on Tuesday night, with New York picking up eight points in eight holes before Jupiter Links could put the first points on the scoreboard. This was the first win for Rickie Fowler, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Max Homa, who have not covered themselves in glory with their team so far, losing twice previously. For Jupiter Links it was their second defeat, having only managed a narrow victory over Boston Commons.

Jupiter Links in danger of missing the TGL playoffs

Both teams now have two points in the table, but the size of the win means New York have an advantage in the hole ratio and are currently above the cut line, while Jupiter Links are in 5th place. All teams have now played three matches, with two more to go before a decision is made on which teams will advance to the playoffs. New York takes on LA next week, who have won two matches so far and lost one in overtime. Jupiter Links will face the previously unbeaten Bay Golf Club.

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OWGR: Jon Rahm out of Top 50

(Foto: Getty)
(Foto: Getty)

The Genesis Invitational caused some movement in the top 10 of the world rankings. At the top of the world golf rankings, Scottie Scheffler unsurprisingly remains in first place, followed by Xander Schauffele in second, while Rory McIlroy missed out on catching up with Schauffele thanks to a mediocre weekend performance. Ludvig Aberg’s win sees him move up from 6th to 4th place, while Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama both drop one place as a result. Places 7 to 10 include Wyndham Clark, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Thomas, who improved from 11th to 9th with a top finish at Torrey Pines, and Tommy Fleetwood, who moved up from 12th to the top 10. Thomas is back in the world’s top 10 for the first time since the spring of 2023.

Further down, Jon Rahm drops out of the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time since 2017. Since his switch to LIV in December 2023, he has missed out on quite a few world ranking points and is ranked 52nd this week. Interestingly, team-mate Hatton, who switched at a similar time, is still successfully holding his own in the top 10 thanks to his excellent record on the DP World Tour, including two victories.

See the complete Official World Golf Ranking here

How the OWGR works

The World Golf Ranking lists all professional golfers who have collected world ranking points. It refers to the last two years. Points collected more than two years ago expire at the end of the corresponding calendar week. The player who has the best points average in relation to the number of tournaments played is at the top of the world golf ranking list and not necessarily the player who has collected the most points in absolute terms (points collected: number of tournaments played). The maximum number of tournaments included in the World Golf Ranking is 52. If a player plays more in the relevant scoring period, the last 52 results are counted. The minimum divisor is 40. How many points are awarded for the World Golf Ranking for a tournament depends on the strength of the field taking part.

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LIV Tour

US Open awards starting places to LIV golfers

US Open exemption for LIV Golfers. (Photo: Getty)
US Open exemption for LIV Golfers. (Photo: Getty)

Until now, LIV golfers could only qualify directly for the biggest tournaments of the year via the world ranking, unless they had already qualified for majors through past successes. Without world ranking points, however, this becomes more and more difficult, which is why the USGA now provides a full exemption for a LIV golfer at the US Open 2025.

US Open introduces qualification criteria for LIV golfers

Already this year, a place in the field will be awarded to the best LIV golfer who has not yet qualified for the US Open at Oakmont Country Club and is in the top 3 of the LIV Golf individual rankings (as of 19 May 2025). In addition, the top 10 in the LIV Golf individual rankings (as of 7 April 2025) will receive a place in local qualifying for the major tournament and can therefore also qualify.

In 2026, there will additionally be a direct starting place for the best, not yet qualified LIV Golf player from the top 3 of the 2025 final ranking, as well as places for local qualifying based on the top 10 of the final ranking.

‘The USGA continues to evaluate the opportunities that exist to e“The USGA continues to evaluate the pathways that exist to ensure those playing their best have the opportunity to compete in our national championship,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “Consistent with our historical approach, we continuously evaluate talent levels on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to add a new exemption category.”

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil is delighted by the news. “We’re pleased that the USGA has formally created a new exemption for LIV Golf players to compete in the U.S. Open and appreciate Mike Whan’s leadership and commitment to growing the game of golf. Every golf fan in the world longs to see the greatest players in the world competing on golf’s biggest stages at the majors.

The US Open is the first major tournament to follow this path. The PGA Championship has extended a special invitation to LIV golfer Joaquin Niemann, as it did in 2024.