The Masters 2026: Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm in LIV Golf flop, Augusta Nationwide circumstances to swimsuit Jason Day, speaking factors

Golf legend sparks backlash over ‘creepy’ comment to feminine reporter

LIV GOLFERS HIT NEW LOW

A inexperienced jacket winner is arguably the one factor LIV Golf is craving greater than something.

The breakaway tour boasts six previous champions on their books, however none of them having received The Masters whereas on LIV.

It appears to be like like that development will proceed as not one of the ten LIV golfers within the subject broke par within the opening spherical.

One of the best of the bunch was 2017 champion Sergio Garcia with a good par 72 – Australia’s Cameron Smith was two pictures worse after bogeying the ultimate two holes.

Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm stood as their nice hopes coming into the event.

Issues may hardly have gone worse.

DeChambeau opened with a four-over par 76 – one shot worse than his remaining spherical final yr – together with a triple bogey on the eleventh courtesy of taking three pictures to flee the sand.

He additionally then received in a tense trade with reporters over a 3D-printed 5-iron he has in his bag for the primary time this week.

Rahm, in the meantime, shot his worst ever spherical at Augusta Nationwide.

The 2023 champion carded a six-over 78.

“It’s a tough golf course,” he stated. “Among the gamers might need been in a position to handle a good spherical, however when you don’t have any really feel with the swing by any means, it’s simply not a simple one.

“It sucks to be on this place, to want a Herculean effort the following two days to present myself the sniff of an opportunity to win. It’s simply irritating.”

Former skilled turned commentator Brandel Chamblee has been a very long time critic of LIV Golf.

And on Reside from The Masters, he didn’t maintain again.

Chamblee identified that DeChambeau was ranked 72nd in strokes gained method, labelling it “abysmal”.

As for Rahm, Chamblee stated: “It’s like he’s forgot learn how to play the sport”.

“Each tee, he’s swinging as onerous as he can swing. It’s like he’s in an extended driving contest,” Chamblee continued.

“I’ve by no means seen anyone swinging as onerous as he’s swinging at each single tee shot. There’s no nuance. There’s no area of interest to his golf swing.

“Now, you’re speaking a couple of man who’s averaging 82 per cent of greens hit on the LIV Tour.

“They’re not being challenged. They’re not being examined. They’re not prepared. They’re taking part in golf programs that aren’t significantly onerous. They’re not arrange very onerous they usually’ve solely received to beat 5 or 6 guys.

“Once I take a look at the statistics, it’d be like Steph Curry going out and taking pictures free throws with a hula-hoop measurement rim, and considering he’s 100 per cent.

“Now, Steph may get to 100 per cent, however that’s type of the false vanity they might have coming in right here.

“They’re not getting examined. They’re not getting challenged they usually don’t should beat too many gamers on the market.

“As time as gone on, they’ve gotten worse and worse and worse.

“This was the worst day in main championship for the LIV gamers collectively.”

Earlier, former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley shared an analogous argument in regards to the contrasting types of LIV in comparison with the majors or a daily PGA Tour occasion.

“You don’t should go at this recreation gung ho from the primary gap to the 72nd. Perhaps in case you’re taking part in on LIV. You see the low scoring that there definitely is on LIV,” McGinley stated.

“It’s a special type of golf over there and that’s why they in all probability struggled once they got here to a golf course like this as we speak.

“The place there’s extra bouncing when it comes to the scoring, you’ve received to bounce again when it comes to errors.

“On LIV, it’s driving in the direction of, definitely 20-25 beneath. Actually the PGA Tour has plenty of the programs too. However there’s extra of the Ying and the Yang.”

Rahm got here into the event with a gray cloud hanging over his head as his dispute with the DP World Tour stays unresolved.

Three-time inexperienced jacket winner Sir Nick Faldo advised Sky Sports activities that he believed that ongoing saga was an issue for Rahm in addition to the character of LIV.

“Jon is having his battles with the DP World Tour over the Ryder Cup stuff… I puzzled whether or not that may encourage him and he’d be saying you already know what to them,” Faldo stated.

“However possibly that has affected him. They usually’ve simply performed two tournaments on LIV [Singapore and South Africa] the place the scoring was round 25 beneath to win.

“You’re not doing that right here. It’s a totally completely different mindset. I don’t consider that was the perfect preparation – when you think about the [PGA] Tour have been at TPC Sawgrass, in contrast.”

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TOUGHEST MASTERS IN RECENT MEMORY?

Solely 16 gamers within the subject of 91 shot beneath par within the first spherical, whereas there have been ten rounds within the 80s – essentially the most in nearly 20 years.

However issues is perhaps about to get a complete lot harder at Augusta Nationwide.

With dry climate and temperatures within the excessive 20s forecast for the approaching days, the long-lasting golf course is about to trigger much more complications.

The rock onerous greens will grow to be tougher to cease the ball on, and extra slippery to putt on.

European Ryder Cup star Shane Lowry (-2) believes the approaching days would be the most testing seen at Augusta for a number of years.

“I believe this could possibly be the hardest Masters we’ve performed shortly,” the Irishman stated.

“You take a look at the forecast – they’ll do no matter they need with the golf course this weekend.

“I believe over the previous few years we’ve had a day yearly the place it’s been raining or it has been heavy rains.

“It’s helped us just a little bit, however I believe earlier than the week is out, it’s going to get very, very crusty round right here.”

Lowry’s taking part in companion Jason Day additionally warned that circumstances may result in a nine-year first.

Sergio Garcia in 2017 was the final participant to win a inexperienced jacket with a complete under ten-under par – the Spaniard shot nine-under that yr.

Whereas leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns already sit at five-under, extra birdies could possibly be onerous to come back by, in keeping with the Australian.

“Simply is determined by what they need. If they need single digits to win, it’ll be baked out and quick and guys will probably be type of spewing on themselves on the market. Be actually troublesome,” Day stated.

“So if they need, they’ll undoubtedly soften it out if they should. It’ll be attention-grabbing. It’s going to be a superb problem regardless.”

Day highlighted the par 5 fifteenth as a terrific instance of how tough the course may be.

With water guarding the entrance of the inexperienced and the placing floor sloping down hill in the direction of it, golfer’s nightmares come to life there.

Many gamers go for the inexperienced in two and cop the uncomfortable chip from the again of the inexperienced in the event that they go lengthy.

However Day was out of place off the tee so opted to put up.

He made par in the long run, however the best way he received there left him and Lowry baffled.

“Lots of people don’t realise how robust that wedge shot is. It makes us very nervous,” Day stated.

“Shane and I landed [our golf balls] simply as much as the inexperienced and bounced as much as the again. I checked out him and he simply began laughing shaking his head.”

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J-DAY LEANING ON EXPERIENCE

Australia’s hopes a second inexperienced jacket for the nation are alive and nicely after Jason Day’s sturdy begin.

Sitting two pictures off the lead following a gap spherical three-under par 69, Day was happy together with his efforts however was very a lot retaining a lid on issues post-round.

“Once I see 5 beneath main, and with what climate we received developing, I’ve simply received to be very affected person,” he stated.

“I’ve simply received to take my birdies once I can and never attempt to drive something. [I am] off to a terrific begin. We’ve received three extra days.”

However Australian golf followers could possibly be forgiven for daring to dream of a second main for the previous world No.1.

That is Day’s fifteenth look and coming off a tied eighth end final yr, the 38-year-old is well-placed to make a run at a maiden inexperienced jacket.

He boasts 5 prime tens at Augusta Nationwide, together with a runner-up end on debut in 2011.

But additionally weighing in Day’s favour is that since he made his profession resurgence after a nasty again accidents, he has carried out his greatest within the majors when the going has been robust.

That features a runner-up end result on the 2023 Open at a moist and wild Royal Liverpool.

Augusta poses a really completely different problem this week with heat, dry climate creating circumstances that Day would have come throughout on the Melbourne Sandbelt in his junior days.

Mixed together with his data of Augusta Nationwide, Day feels able to plot his manner round higher than anybody else within the coming days.

“Man, prefer it’s — you can begin seeing — in case you look down the primary fairway you begin seeing the purple change. That’s when you already know whenever you begin seeing that tinge of purple, that’s when you already know it’s beginning to get agency and quick,” he stated post-round.

“Like I stated yesterday was a dramatic distinction in the best way the course was taking part in. It was very smooth — it was softer, so much softer, so much slower.

“Now you’re beginning to see issues roll out just a little bit extra. Like I imply, you may’t — there’s sure areas the place you need to miss and generally you simply received it suck it up.

“In order that’s when getting again to your query in regards to the expertise, undoubtedly helps realizing that — being round right here 15 instances now, it undoubtedly helps in these conditions.”

CAN RORY KEEP IT UP?

Rory McIlroy’s title defence received off to the absolute best begin as he nabbed a share of the lead alongside Sam Burns.

The profession grand slam winner now has an opportunity to make extra historical past.

Tiger Woods in 2002 was the final to win the Masters in consecutive years, however McIlroy additionally now has a 60-year first in his sights.

Jack Nicklaus in 1966 was the final defending champion to guide after the primary spherical and go on to win back-to-back inexperienced jackets.

If McIlroy is to imitate that feat, Paul McGinley believes he might want to tidy issues up just a little bit regardless of taking pictures a five-under par 67.

That mark is 5 pictures higher than how McIlroy began final yr.

However like final yr, when the Northern Irishman grew to become the primary particular person to make 4 double bogeys for the event and nonetheless win the inexperienced jacket, it isn’t all easy crusing for McIlroy.

“It was a recreation of two halves as they are saying in soccer. The entrance 9 he was in every single place. I believe he received fortunate,” McGinley stated on Reside from The Masters.

“I believe various instances he was up to now off line that he was amazed that he really had a shot to the inexperienced.

“I do know he needed to conjure one thing up, however he did. Quantity 5 and quantity seven involves thoughts. Unimaginable restoration pictures.

“He did have gaps, you might see that from the TV protection.

“I assumed his chipping was unbelievable on the entrance 9. Simply staying within the recreation. Staying within the combat, which isn’t one thing he’s at all times completed traditionally.

“Staying within the recreation was necessary as a result of that was the muse for occurring then.

“You understand he was going to ignite at some stage and what it took was that second shot to eight.

“Impulsively the lights went on and Rory McIlroy stated ‘okay, now shoulders again, I’m going to Rolls Royce a bit’.

“He performed some phenomenal golf on the again 9.”

McGinley added: “Can he stick with it for 4 days? The battery is kind of drained with all that’s been occurring.”

Broadcaster Wealthy Lerner responded by saying a slice misfortune final month may show to be a blessing in disguise for McIlroy.

“I believe three weeks off served him nicely as a result of I believe he knew he was going to should have max power for all that he wished to do,” Lerner stated.
“He wished to be there for the membership in each manner and he has been. He was there Saturday on the Augusta Nationwide Ladies’s Beginner.

“He was handing out trophies on Sunday morning to the children on the drive, chip and putt.

“He was there Tuesday night time for the dinner. He was there Wednesday for the par 3.

“I assumed strategically that appeared to be a superb transfer.

“I do know a few of it needed to do with the again difficulty – withdrawing at Bay Hill.

“However possibly he has extra power than we predict. Time will inform.”

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LEGEND BLASTS PGA TOUR OVER LIV RETURNEES

Earlier than the LIV Golf contingent battled their manner round Augusta Nationwide, a few of their former colleagues have been within the gun within the media centre.

Brooks Koepka (E) and Patrick Reed (-3) made headlines earlier this yr with their choice to leap again over the fence after defecting to LIV 4 years in the past.

Koepka was lucky to be instantly reinstated to the PGA Tour courtesy of being a serious winner because the males’s recreation was cut up in two in 2022.

Whereas Reed should bide his time on the DP World Tour till he can re-join for the 2027 season after serving a 12-month hole from his remaining LIV look.

Eight-time main champion Tom Watson is displeased with Koepka and Reed being allowed to come back again, nevertheless.

In his Honorary Starters press convention, the 76-year-old took intention on the PGA Tour for opening their arms.

“The [PGA] Tour decided to renege on what they promised when the gamers left for LIV,” Watson stated.

“They felt that the compensation that he [Koepka] paid is nice sufficient.

“I assumed the LIV gamers, once they left, they have been purported to be banned for all times?! If I used to be commissioner, that’s what I’d do.

“I’d say in case you’re completed along with your contract with LIV Golf, if you wish to play the PGA Tour once more, you come again, and you have to play the Korn Ferry Tour for a yr to qualify for it. They noticed it in a different way.”

Watson added: “When the gamers left, they violated the primary rule that we actually had out right here, which is to guard the sponsors.

“Sponsors want gamers. They want the names to have the ability to promote their tournaments.

“If the gamers play wherever they wish to play and not using a conflicting occasion rule, the place you needed to search the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a event reverse of a PGA Tour event, the sponsors could be damage by that. I believe all of us understood that.

“When the gamers left for LIV, I believe it was mainly over. They selected to go for the cash, which is ok, however to return to the PGA [Tour], I assumed, was a non-starter, however apparently, it’s not.”

Reed was requested about Watson’s feedback following his three-under par third spherical 69, through which he made two eagles on the entrance 9.

The 2018 Masters champion responded by saying: “I’m simply going by the principles.”

“I’m doing my time from what they stated on Participant Handbook, and I’m excited to come back again taking part in on the PGA Tour,” he continued.

“I can’t wait actually to get again and end my profession on the PGA Tour the place I began.”