Despite boasting a strong squad of golfers, LIV has been severely criticized for its players underperforming at the majors just because they don’t play ‘real golf’ anymore. So far, only two LIV Golfers have managed to win the majors- Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Then the question begs to be answered. Is LIV Golf reducing the competitive edge of top golfers? That’s arguable for many but not for LIV golfers, especially Sergio Garcia.

LIV Golf is in Miami for its fifth event of the year, and this event holds a lot of importance because it is the precursor event to the first big test for the golfers – the Masters. Sergio Garcia is doing well at the Trump National Doral, having T2 spot after R2, and he thinks this is preparing him for what is to come next week.

Speaking to the press, Sergio Garcia stated that playing in tough conditions in Miami is good preparation. He explained, “It’s definitely a strong test coming into next week. We’re going to need to rest on Monday, that’s for sure, after this week. But yeah, it’s definitely an amazing test.” He won the Green Jacket in 2017, and since then, he has participated in six Masters Tournaments, making the cut only once. The 2025 Masters is the 100th major in Sergio Garcia’s career, and he is looking forward to the upcoming challenge and putting his past demons to rest.

The Blue Monster Course is a very testing course. In that aspect, it is very similar to Augusta National Golf Course and therefore the ideal preparation setup for the upcoming Masters Tournament. Playing there, right before the Masters, gives them more of an understanding of what the next week is going to look like. “This course at the moment, the way it’s playing, it’s testing every single part of your game, and that’s what Augusta is going to do next week. Hopefully, we’ll be able to keep doing more of the same,” Garcia added.

The 2024 US Open winner, Bryson DeChambeau, feels the same way as well. “This wind is the more difficult wind, I would say, so it’s a good test leading up to the Masters, just a good test in general. I like these types of golf courses. They really do truly test and see if you have your full game.” Another major winner shared a similar sentiment.

Patrick Reed, the 2018 Augusta champ, said, “This is one of those places that if you get aggressive and you try to take stuff on that — and you try to push it too hard, you can make big numbers in a hurry. This is one of those places, kind of like Augusta, you have to kind of let it go, play smart, and just let the rounds come to you.” 

Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, and Bryson DeChambeau will be three of the twelve LIV Golf players looking to benefit from the similarities between both courses. While DeChambeau and Garcia are currently hitting their best form in recent times at Miami, they will be part of a highly competitive 96-man field at the Augusta National.

One of the twelve, Phil Mickelson, is also looking forward to the challenge to try and win his fourth Masters.

Phil Mickelson ready for Masters

The 6-time Major winner feels that he is set for a good showing at the Major and feels like he is in the best of condition to do so. “I’ve been able to think much better. I’ve been able to process things much better, stay present much better, not force it much better than I have in the past,”  he said in Miami.

He also went on to add the secret behind winning the majors. “How you deal with adversity, how you deal with bad shots, how you deal with mistakes or unlucky breaks, and how you come back from that and how you fight through it—that’s how you win majors,” the LIV golfer added. It is not about how you fall; it is about whether you get back up and keep fighting.

Well, LIV Golf now has the chance to recoup its standing in the world of golf. For that Masters, and how their players fare will be crucial. With such a packed field representing LIV Golf, do you think one of them could make the case for the Saudi-backed circuit and clinch the Green Jacket? Or do you think they will be hitting above their weight class against seasoned PGA Tour golfers?