Nick Faldo didn’t mince words when talking about LIV Golf’s performance at The Masters.

Nick Faldo didn’t mince words when talking about LIV Golf’s performance at The Masters.

 

 

Nick Faldo insists the LIV golfers will continue to struggle at Majors because they aren’t playing enough and “have a fail-free tour”. Several of those who have defected to the Saudi-backed tour were welcomed to the Masters, but few were able to mount a charge.

Jon Rahm, who won the Green Jacket only two years ago, was never a threat and ended up finishing in a tie for 14th. Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith, both Major winners, failed to even make the cut.

The incentive to go and play on the LIV Tour was largely financial with players receiving guaranteed cash to make the mov. Their tournaments are also less regular, shorter and don’t have the threat of the cut, making prize money a given every time they take to the course.

Several of the big names who moved over have been unable to consistently show the form they had before joining LIV and Faldo maintains that their lack of playing time will ultimately impact on them – as will the lack of jeopardy that comes with making the cut.

He compared it to F1 Racing:

“If Max Verstappen only drove in a Formula One race four times a year, I’d be shocked if he could perform. You’ve got to be in the same arena all the time.”

Faldo, a three-time Masters Champion and one of golf’s all-time greats, was unimpressed with how LIV players performed. Many of the biggest names — Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, and others — did not make the cut at Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau managed to make the final pairing with a Sunday Showdown and a rematch of the U.S. Open with Rory McIlroy, the eventual champion. However, he fell to T7 after a sluggish Sunday round.

Since the inception of LIV they’ve only seen two Major wins – Koepka at the PGA Championship in 2023 and Bryson DeChambeau’s US Open success last year. DeChambeau is the only man who’s been able to regularly challenge and was in the hunt going into the Masters’ final round before falling away.

Faldo was accused of bias commentary against the American, which he batted away. That’s bulls***,” he says. “I like the guy. I texted him after he won the US Open. I don’t like the way he plays at times, which I’m allowed to criticise. He said he was going to attack Troon last year. You don’t attack a links, you thread it down there. I’m not sure about his strategy, but he is great entertainment. I’m a fan.”

Rory McIlroy’s Cold Shoulder Toward DeChambeau During Masters Final Round Explained

The league’s biggest assets, who left the PGA TOUR, are continuing to give an argument to the critics who have criticized them for not prioritizing their game. Faldo believes it is because LIV has no cut in its tournaments, and players are not necessarily admonished for poor play:

They have a fail-free tour. They’ve got wonderful appearance fees and prize money galore and they’re guaranteed it next week whether they hit their hat or not. There’s no fear of failure, and that is a serious driving force. Cam Smith has gone quiet. Brooks has gone quiet. You can’t tell me that in some way it hasn’t affected them.”

Koepka and DeChambeau are the only two LIV Golfers to win Major Championships since leaving the TOUR. Koepka won the PGA at Oak Hill in 2023, and DeChambeau won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 last Summer.

However, these two players have been basically the only bright points for LIV in the Majors. Their play has not been consistent enough to fend off any true criticism.