The opening round of the Masters at Augusta National proved to be a stern test for the contingent of LIV Golf players, with not a single one managing to finish under par. On a firm and fast course, the day belonged to the grinders, leaving many of golf's biggest names searching for answers.

Veteran Sergio Garcia emerged as the best of the breakaway series, carding a level-par 72. However, the spotlight fell on the struggles of marquee LIV stars Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Rahm, the defending champion, and the powerful DeChambeau entered with strong LIV form but found themselves in a deep hole after rounds of 78 and 76, respectively.

"It's a hard golf course," admitted Rahm, who tops the LIV rankings this season. "When you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it's just not an easy one." DeChambeau's typically potent iron play was off, leaving him well adrift of the first-round co-leaders, Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.

The challenging conditions are unlikely to relent, with a forecast of dry, hot, and windy weather setting the stage for a brutal weekend. Other notable LIV players, including Dustin Johnson (+1), Cam Smith (+2), and Bubba Watson (+4), also face an uphill battle to climb the leaderboard.

In a contrasting narrative, Patrick Reed, who departed LIV at the start of 2026, enjoyed a stellar start. Now with two DP World Tour wins under his belt, Reed sits just two shots off the lead. He attributed his strong position to a disciplined, shot-by-shot mentality, echoing the approach that won him a Green Jacket in 2018. His performance serves as a reminder that at Augusta, mental fortitude is just as crucial as physical skill.