As the dust settles on the 2024 season, some unsettling questions loom over the stars of LIV Golf, particularly in their performance at major tournaments. Bryson DeChambeau, a force to be reckoned with, emerged victorious at the U.S. Open. However, the rest of the LIV Golf players seem to have fallen short of making a significant impact at the majors.
Sergio Garcia was the closest contender, ranking at T12, while DeChambeau was the sole representative of LIV Golf in the top 10 at the year’s PGA Championship. At The Open Championship, Jon Rahm managed a T7 finish, with DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton securing places in the top 10 at the Masters Tournament.
However, there seems to be a growing consensus that the stars of LIV Golf are failing to assert their dominance in the major tournaments. The Saudi-based promotion has fewer marquee players compared to the PGA Tour. The latter boasts a vast roster of top-notch golfers ready to make their mark at the majors, including Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, and Shane Lowry, among others.
Joseph Lamagna, an analyst and guest on the Fried Egg Golf podcast, confirms the apparent disparity in the majors’ leaderboard. LIV Golf only had four golfers finishing in the top 10 in 2024, a rather modest figure given their hefty salaries. The lack of expectations for these golfers, funded by the PIF, to perform at major tournaments is a cause for concern.
Lamagna further raised eyebrows by asserting that the best LIV Golf pros are ageing and their competitive windows are closing. Outside of DeChambeau, 2024 wasn’t a successful year for the league in the majors. Lamagna points out the evident lack of depth in the LIV Golf talent pool and comments on the lower consistent standard being set in the tour compared to the PGA Tour.
While acknowledging the capabilities of Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, Lamagna also highlighted the absence of LIV golfers consistently delivering top performances. He argued that if they are not finishing at the top on LIV, they won’t fare well in major championships. He cited the example of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who have maintained consistent winning streaks and have been serious contenders even when not winning.
Lamagna’s co-podcaster, Andy Johnson, chimed in with a critique of LIV, suggesting that some of the players have lost their caliber due to the low expectations set by the league.
In spite of these concerns, the records of the past few years reveal that LIV Golf pros are still capable of pulling off wins at the majors. DeChambeau’s 2024 U.S. Open win and near victory at the PGA Championship, along with a T6 finish at the Masters Tournament, are testament to this.
Back in 2023, it was Jon Rahm, then a PGA Tour player, who dominated the course with a win at the Augusta Nationals. That same year, Brooks Koepka, a LIV Golf pro, triumphed at the PGA Championship. In 2022, Cameron Smith, who signed up for the inaugural season of LIV Golf a month later, captured The Open Championship.
Despite these victories, LIV Golf pros have failed to dominate the leaderboards consistently. This dynamic could change significantly with rumors of Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka considering leaving LIV Golf.
While the jury is still out on whether LIV Golf pros are genuinely struggling at the majors, it’s clear that the road ahead is riddled with challenges and expectations. As the 2025 season looms, it remains to be seen how these pros will respond to the pressure and up their game on golf’s biggest stages.
