{"id":597411,"date":"2026-04-10T07:21:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T07:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/597411\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T07:21:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T07:21:09","slug":"bryson-dechambeau-and-jon-rahm-in-liv-golf-flop-augusta-national-conditions-to-suit-jason-day-talking-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/597411\/","title":{"rendered":"Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm in LIV Golf flop, Augusta National conditions to suit Jason Day, talking points"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The first round of the 2026 Masters is in the books and it was<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-first-round-leaderboard-live-scores-blog-how-to-watch-bryson-dechambeau-three-shots-out-of-a-bunker-rory-mcilroy-fast-start-aussies-in-action\/news-story\/f61c6804bebafa75629cd7a3db986d54\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"> brutal for the LIV Golf contingent at Augusta National<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, in particular, now face an uphill battle to make the weekend and the pair have been accused of having \u201cfalse arrogance\u201d leading into the first major of the year.<\/p>\n<p>\ufeffThe only place to watch the Masters Live &amp; Exclusive is Fox Sports. Available on Kayo. | New to Kayo? <a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au\/en-AU\/welcome\/golf?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkgolf-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-glf-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/poster-fallback.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The superstar duo were not the only ones to struggle with a near two-decade low hit as the famous course bared its teeth.<\/p>\n<p>Rory McIlroy withstood the chaos of the firm and fast conditions in a dream start to his bid to win back-to-back jackets.<\/p>\n<p>While Jason Day also made a strong start to the tournament and showed why he is well-placed to challenge for a second major title.<\/p>\n<p>Off the course, the PGA Tour v LIV Golf rivalry was also in the spotlight as a legend of the sport unloaded on the former for opening its arms to a few defectors.<\/p>\n<p>Scroll down for the biggest talking points from the first round of the 2026 Masters!<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE<\/p>\n<p>R1 WRAP: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-first-round-leaderboard-live-scores-blog-how-to-watch-bryson-dechambeau-three-shots-out-of-a-bunker-rory-mcilroy-fast-start-aussies-in-action\/news-story\/f61c6804bebafa75629cd7a3db986d54\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Day starts hot as all-time Masters fairytale implodes; star filthy, Bryson flop stuns<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Pfftttt, no?\u2019: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-bryson-dechambeau-in-tense-exchange-with-reporter-over-3dprinted-club-video-highlights\/news-story\/7dc7724676e900b37bcee4c83a66f1e7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Bryson\u2019s bizarre clash with reporter over 3D-printed club after Masters disaster<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters\/the-masters-2026-gary-player-calls-sky-sports-presenter-anna-jackson-a-good-looking-chick-video\/news-story\/82a6c3e1dd0f39a47b025bffec29458b\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\ufeffGolf legend sparks backlash over \u2018creepy\u2019 remark to female reporter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bryson DeChambeau watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters.Source: AP<\/p>\n<p>LIV GOLFERS HIT NEW LOW<\/p>\n<p>A green jacket winner is arguably the one thing LIV Golf is craving more than anything.<\/p>\n<p>The breakaway tour boasts six past champions on their books, but none of them having won The Masters while on LIV.<\/p>\n<p>It looks like that trend will continue as none of the ten LIV golfers in the field broke par in the opening round.<\/p>\n<p>The best of the bunch was 2017 champion Sergio Garcia with an even par 72 &#8211; Australia\u2019s Cameron Smith was two shots worse after bogeying the final two holes.<\/p>\n<p>Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm stood as their great hopes coming into the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Things could hardly have gone worse.<\/p>\n<p>DeChambeau opened with a four-over par 76 &#8211; one shot worse than his final round last year &#8211; including a triple bogey at the 11th courtesy of taking three shots to escape the sand.<\/p>\n<p>He also then got in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-bryson-dechambeau-in-tense-exchange-with-reporter-over-3dprinted-club-video-highlights\/news-story\/7dc7724676e900b37bcee4c83a66f1e7\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">tense exchange with reporters over a 3D-printed 5-iron<\/a> he has in his bag for the first time this week.<\/p>\n<p>Bryson DeChambeau looks on while playing the 13th hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: AFP<\/p>\n<p>Rahm, meanwhile, shot his worst ever round at Augusta National.<\/p>\n<p>The 2023 champion carded a six-over 78.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a hard golf course,\u201d he said. \u201cSome of the players might have been able to manage a respectable round, but when you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it\u2019s just not an easy one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt sucks to be in this position, to need a Herculean effort the next two days to give myself the sniff of a chance to win. It\u2019s just frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Former professional turned commentator Brandel Chamblee has been a long time critic of LIV Golf.<\/p>\n<p>And on Live from The Masters, he did not hold back.<\/p>\n<p>Chamblee pointed out that DeChambeau was ranked 72nd in strokes gained approach, labelling it \u201cabysmal\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>As for Rahm, Chamblee said: \u201cIt\u2019s like he\u2019s forgot how to play the game\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery tee, he\u2019s swinging as hard as he can swing. It\u2019s like he\u2019s in a long driving contest,\u201d Chamblee continued.<\/p>\n<p>Jon Rahm reacts on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never seen anybody swinging as hard as he\u2019s swinging at every single tee shot. There\u2019s no nuance. There\u2019s no niche to his golf swing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, you\u2019re talking about a guy who is averaging 82 per cent of greens hit on the LIV Tour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re not being challenged. They\u2019re not being tested. They\u2019re not ready. They\u2019re playing golf courses that are not particularly hard. They\u2019re not set up very hard and they\u2019ve only got to beat five or six guys.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I look at the statistics, it\u2019d be like Steph Curry going out and shooting free throws with a hula-hoop size rim, and thinking he\u2019s 100 per cent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, Steph might get to 100 per cent, but that\u2019s kind of the false arrogance they would have coming in here.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re not getting tested. They\u2019re not getting challenged and they don\u2019t have to beat too many players out there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs time as gone on, they\u2019ve gotten worse and worse and worse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis was the worst day in major championship for the LIV players collectively.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley shared a similar argument about the contrasting styles of LIV compared to the majors or a regular PGA Tour event.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to go at this game gung ho from the first hole to the 72nd. Maybe if you\u2019re playing on LIV. You see the low scoring that there certainly is on LIV,\u201d McGinley said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a different style of golf over there and that\u2019s why they probably struggled when they came to a golf course like this today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere there\u2019s more bouncing in terms of the scoring, you\u2019ve got to bounce back in terms of mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn LIV, it\u2019s driving towards, certainly 20-25 under. Certainly the PGA Tour has a lot of the courses too. But there\u2019s more of the Ying and the Yang.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Jon Rahm looks on while playing the first hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: AFP<\/p>\n<p>Rahm came into the tournament with a grey cloud hanging over his head as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-who-will-win-major-winner-removed-from-augusta-national-for-breaking-phone-rule-adam-scott-welcomes-rory-mcilroy-to-champions-club\/news-story\/7c0323bac7b7668f6e6ebd872b061569\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">his dispute with the DP World Tour remains unresolved<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Three-time green jacket winner Sir Nick Faldo told Sky Sports that he believed that ongoing saga was a problem for Rahm as well as the nature of LIV.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJon is having his battles with the DP World Tour over the Ryder Cup stuff&#8230; I wondered whether that would inspire him and he\u2019d be saying you know what to them,\u201d Faldo said.<\/p>\n<p data-eom-bogus=\"true\" id=\"U03541774270csl\">\u201cBut maybe that has affected him. And they\u2019ve just played two tournaments on LIV [Singapore and South Africa] where the scoring was around 25 under to win.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re not doing that here. It\u2019s a completely different mindset. I don\u2019t believe that was the best preparation &#8211; when you consider the [PGA] Tour have been at TPC Sawgrass, by contrast.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE<\/p>\n<p>TEE TIMES: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters\/masters-2026-tee-times-and-pairings-australians-adam-scott-cameron-smith-jason-day-min-woo-lee-rory-mcilroy-scottie-scheffler-times-in-local-and-aest\/news-story\/cb00b0cb59f00567e23ec32e5bbe9ca3\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Aussies paired with champions as blockbuster groups revealed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Is this really happening?\u2019: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters\/is-this-really-happening-warren-smiths-holebyhole-diary-of-a-dream-2025-round-at-augusta\/news-story\/6dd71ba536e870dcf95e7061d7d66247\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Warren Smith\u2019s hole-by-hole diary of a dream 2025 round at Augusta<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pre-Masters Talking Pts: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-who-will-win-major-winner-removed-from-augusta-national-for-breaking-phone-rule-adam-scott-welcomes-rory-mcilroy-to-champions-club\/news-story\/7c0323bac7b7668f6e6ebd872b061569\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Aussie\u2019s classy Rory act revealed; major champ booted out in crack down<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fun &amp; Games on Masters Eve | 02:28<\/p>\n<p>TOUGHEST MASTERS IN RECENT MEMORY? <\/p>\n<p>Only 16 players in the field of 91 shot under par in the first round, while there were ten rounds in the 80s &#8211; the most in almost 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>But things might be about to get a whole lot tougher at Augusta National.<\/p>\n<p>With dry weather and temperatures in the high 20s forecast for the coming days, the iconic golf course is set to cause even more headaches.<\/p>\n<p>The rock hard greens will become harder to stop the ball on, and more slippery to putt on.<\/p>\n<p>European Ryder Cup star Shane Lowry (-2) believes the coming days will be the most testing seen at Augusta for several years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think this could be the toughest Masters we\u2019ve played in a while,\u201d the Irishman said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou look at the forecast &#8211; they can do whatever they want with the golf course this weekend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think over the last few years we\u2019ve had a day every year where it\u2019s been raining or it has been heavy rains. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s helped us a little bit, but I think before the week is out, it\u2019s going to get very, very crusty around here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shane Lowry and Jason Day shake hands on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: AFP<\/p>\n<p>Lowry\u2019s playing partner Jason Day also warned that conditions could lead to a nine-year first.<\/p>\n<p>Sergio Garcia in 2017 was the last player to win a green jacket with a total below ten-under par &#8211; the Spaniard shot nine-under that year.<\/p>\n<p>While leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns already sit at five-under, more birdies could be hard to come by, according to the Australian.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust depends on what they want. If they want single digits to win, it\u2019ll be baked out and fast and guys will be kind of spewing on themselves out there. Be really difficult,\u201d Day said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo if they want, they can definitely soften it out if they need to. It\u2019ll be interesting. It\u2019s going to be a good challenge regardless.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Day highlighted the par 5 15th as a great example of how tricky the course can be.<\/p>\n<p>With water guarding the front of the green and the putting surface sloping down hill towards it, golfer\u2019s nightmares come to life there.<\/p>\n<p>Many players go for the green in two and cop the uncomfortable chip from the back of the green if they go long.<\/p>\n<p>But Day was out of position off the tee so opted to lay up.<\/p>\n<p>He made par in the end, but the way he got there left him and Lowry baffled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t realise how tough that wedge shot is. It makes us very nervous,\u201d Day said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cShane and I landed [our golf balls] just up to the green and bounced up to the back. I looked at him and he just started laughing shaking his head.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\ufeffGet all the latest golf news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/newsletter-sign-up?utm_source=GolfArticle&amp;utm_medium=TextLink&amp;utm_campaign=signup\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Masters: Full Australian preview | 07:56<\/p>\n<p>J-DAY LEANING ON EXPERIENCE<\/p>\n<p>Australia\u2019s hopes a second green jacket for the nation are alive and well after Jason Day\u2019s strong start.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting two shots off the lead following an opening round three-under par 69, Day was pleased with his efforts but was very much keeping a lid on things post-round.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I see five under leading, and with what weather we got coming up, I\u2019ve just got to be very patient,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve just got to take my birdies when I can and not try and force anything. [I am] off to a great start. We\u2019ve got three more days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Australian golf fans could be forgiven for daring to dream of a second major for the former world No.1.<\/p>\n<p>This is Day\u2019s 15th appearance and coming off a tied eighth finish last year, the 38-year-old is well-placed to make a run at a maiden green jacket.<\/p>\n<p>He boasts five top tens at Augusta National, including a runner-up finish on debut in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>But also weighing in Day\u2019s favour is that since he made his career resurgence after a nasty back injuries, he has performed his best in the majors when the going has been tough.<\/p>\n<p>That includes a runner-up result at the 2023 Open at a wet and wild Royal Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>Jason Day reacts on the eighth green during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: AFP<\/p>\n<p>Augusta poses a very different challenge this week with warm, dry weather creating conditions that Day would have come across on the Melbourne Sandbelt in his junior days.<\/p>\n<p>Combined with his knowledge of Augusta National, Day feels ready to plot his way around better than anyone else in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMan, like it\u2019s \u2014 you can start seeing \u2014 if you look down the first fairway you start seeing the purple change. That\u2019s when you know when you start seeing that tinge of purple, that\u2019s when you know it\u2019s starting to get firm and fast,\u201d he said post-round.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike I said yesterday was a dramatic difference in the way the course was playing. It was very soft \u2014 it was softer, a lot softer, a lot slower.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow you\u2019re starting to see things roll out a little bit more. Like I mean, you can\u2019t \u2014 there is certain locations where you have to miss and sometimes you just got it suck it up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo that\u2019s when getting back to your question about the experience, definitely helps knowing that \u2014 being around here 15 times now, it definitely helps in those situations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rory&#8217;s incredible shot at 15 re-visited | 02:00<\/p>\n<p>CAN RORY KEEP IT UP?<\/p>\n<p>Rory McIlroy\u2019s title defence got off to the best possible start as he nabbed a share of the lead alongside Sam Burns.<\/p>\n<p>The career grand slam winner now has a chance to make more history.<\/p>\n<p>Tiger Woods in 2002 was the last to win the Masters in consecutive years, but McIlroy also now has a 60-year first in his sights.<\/p>\n<p>Jack Nicklaus in 1966 was the last defending champion to lead after the first round and go on to win back-to-back green jackets.<\/p>\n<p>If McIlroy is to mimic that feat, Paul McGinley believes he will need to tidy things up a little bit despite shooting a five-under par 67.<\/p>\n<p>That mark is five shots better than how McIlroy started last year.<\/p>\n<p>But like last year, when the Northern Irishman became the first person to make four double bogeys for the tournament and still win the green jacket, it is not all smooth sailing for McIlroy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a game of two halves as they say in soccer. The front nine he was all over the place. I think he got lucky,\u201d McGinley said on Live from The Masters.<\/p>\n<p>Rory McIlroy looks on from the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think a number of times he was so far off line that he was amazed that he actually had a shot to the green.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know he had to conjure something up, but he did. Number five and number seven comes to mind. Incredible recovery shots.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe did have gaps, you could see that from the TV coverage. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought his chipping was fantastic on the front nine. Just staying in the game. Staying in the fight, which is not something he\u2019s always done historically.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStaying in the game was important because that was the foundation for going on then.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know he was going to ignite at some stage and what it took was that second shot to eight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of a sudden the lights went on and Rory McIlroy said \u2018okay, now shoulders back, I\u2019m going to Rolls Royce a bit\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe played some phenomenal golf on the back nine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McGinley added: \u201cCan he keep it up for four days? The battery is quite drained with all that\u2019s been going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rory McIlroy reacts on the eighth green during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Broadcaster Rich Lerner responded by saying a slice misfortune last month could prove to be a blessing in disguise for McIlroy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think three weeks off served him well because I think he knew he was going to have to have max energy for all that he wanted to do,\u201d Lerner said.<br \/>\u201cHe wanted to be there for the club in every way and he has been. He was there Saturday at the Augusta National Women\u2019s Amateur.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was handing out trophies on Sunday morning to the kids at the drive, chip and putt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was there Tuesday night for the dinner. He was there Wednesday for the par 3.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought strategically that seemed to be a good move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know some of it had to do with the back issue &#8211; withdrawing at Bay Hill.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut maybe he has more energy than we think. Time will tell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE<\/p>\n<p>\ufeff\u2018Screw me over\u2019: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters\/the-masters-2026-greg-normans-1996-masters-collapse-at-augusta-ad-nick-faldo-feud-30-years-on-biggest-chokes-in-majors\/news-story\/870403eb17e0357a7b721ce3eb745d4a\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Inside golf\u2019s most sickening choke&#8230; and why bad blood just exploded again<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters\/the-masters-2026-what-its-like-for-fans-at-augusta-national-with-450-food-combo-seating-race-and-unique-rules-behind-experience-feature-latest-golf-news\/news-story\/70606668786dfbd3da8339b0bb669c2b\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\ufeffInside the ropes at \u2018Disneyland for adults\u2019&#8230; from those lucky enough to get a \u2018golden ticket\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\ufeff\u2018No. This isn\u2019t some game\u2019: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/golf\/the-masters-2026-bryson-dechambeau-vs-rory-mcilroy-rivalry-as-2025-augusta-standoff-revealed-preview-video\/news-story\/b40c5c20de4b4390e014ad71137a5227\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Shock Masters standoff we all missed as explosive divide laid bare<\/a><\/p>\n<p>30 years since Greg Norman&#8217;s collapse | 04:03<\/p>\n<p>LEGEND BLASTS PGA TOUR OVER LIV RETURNEES<\/p>\n<p>Before the LIV Golf contingent battled their way around Augusta National, some of their former colleagues were in the gun in the media centre.<\/p>\n<p>Brooks Koepka (E) and Patrick Reed (-3) made headlines earlier this year with their decision to jump back over the fence after defecting to LIV four years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Koepka was fortunate to be immediately reinstated to the PGA Tour courtesy of being a major winner since the men\u2019s game was split in two in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>While Reed must bide his time on the DP World Tour until he can re-join for the 2027 season after serving a 12-month gap from his final LIV appearance.<\/p>\n<p>Eight-time major champion Tom Watson is displeased with Koepka and Reed being allowed to come back, however.<\/p>\n<p>In his Honorary Starters press conference, the 76-year-old took aim at the PGA Tour for opening their arms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe [PGA] Tour made a decision to renege on what they promised when the players left for LIV,\u201d Watson said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey felt that the compensation that he [Koepka] paid is good enough.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life?! If I was commissioner, that\u2019s what I would do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d say if you\u2019re finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it. They saw it differently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Honorary Starter Tom Watson shakes hands with Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley on the first tee.Source: AFP<\/p>\n<p>Watson added: \u201cWhen the players left, they violated the number one rule that we really had out here, which is to protect the sponsors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSponsors need players. They need the names to be able to promote their tournaments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the players play wherever they want to play without a conflicting event rule, where you had to seek the permission of the PGA Tour to play in a tournament opposite of a PGA Tour tournament, the sponsors would be hurt by that. I think we all understood that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen the players left for LIV, I think it was basically over. They chose to go for the money, which is fine, but to return to the PGA [Tour], I thought, was a non-starter, but apparently, it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Patrick Reed reacts on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Reed was asked about Watson\u2019s comments following his three-under par third round 69, in which he made two eagles on the front nine.<\/p>\n<p>The 2018 Masters champion responded by saying: \u201cI\u2019m just going by the rules.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m doing my time from what they said on Player Handbook, and I\u2019m excited to come back playing on the PGA Tour,\u201d he continued. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t wait really to get back and finish my career on the PGA Tour where I started.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The first round of the 2026 Masters is in the books and it was brutal for the LIV&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":597412,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[6074,1724,64,11537,63,689,6946,290462,291555,263654,108977,291326,3193,29743,69051,291553,70368,291565,291552,291333,291334,289331,281957,755,5498,9262,5505,290482,1745,8463,289329,29981,143867,181272,24416,291566,291557,291558,291569,24415,5499,290139,159185,290148,65317,291562,138388,10917,677,33064,70796,265601,9231,103960,668,64924,291556,756,130305,6952,1656,942,291563,2643,291564,1183,2812,18780,85,17205,32278,7663,2508,5493,291568,291561,9244,291559,38445,37088,291560,291554,34148,291567],"class_list":{"0":"post-597411","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-africa","9":"tag-asia","10":"tag-au","11":"tag-augusta-national-inc","12":"tag-australia","13":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","14":"tag-australian-golf-fans","15":"tag-australian-previewthe","16":"tag-back-to-back-green-jackets","17":"tag-blockbuster-groups","18":"tag-brandel-chamblee","19":"tag-bunker-nightmare","20":"tag-cameron-smith","21":"tag-career-grand-slam","22":"tag-career-resurgence","23":"tag-conflicting-event-rule","24":"tag-dream-start","25":"tag-driving-contest","26":"tag-dry-weather","27":"tag-fairytale-implodes","28":"tag-female-reporter","29":"tag-final-round-collapse","30":"tag-fred-ridley","31":"tag-golf","32":"tag-golf-balls","33":"tag-golf-course","34":"tag-golf-courses","35":"tag-golf-expert","36":"tag-golf-news","37":"tag-golf-swing","38":"tag-golfing-legend","39":"tag-grand-slam-winner","40":"tag-green-jacket","41":"tag-green-jacket-winner","42":"tag-greg-norman","43":"tag-honorary-starters-press","44":"tag-hula-hoop-size-rim","45":"tag-iconic-golf-course","46":"tag-incredible-recovery-shots","47":"tag-jack-nicklaus","48":"tag-jason-day","49":"tag-key-insights","50":"tag-legend-blasts","51":"tag-live-ampamp-exclusive","52":"tag-maiden-green-jacket","53":"tag-max-energy","54":"tag-media-centre","55":"tag-nick-faldo","56":"tag-oceania","57":"tag-opening-round","58":"tag-patrick-reed","59":"tag-paul-gow","60":"tag-paul-mcginley","61":"tag-practice-day","62":"tag-press-conference","63":"tag-putting-surface","64":"tag-rich-lerner","65":"tag-rory-mcilroy","66":"tag-royal-liverpool","67":"tag-sergio-garcia","68":"tag-shane-lowry","69":"tag-singapore","70":"tag-single-tee-shot","71":"tag-sky-sports","72":"tag-slice-misfortune","73":"tag-south-africa","74":"tag-south-eastern-asia","75":"tag-southern-africa","76":"tag-sports","77":"tag-steph-curry","78":"tag-superstar-duo","79":"tag-talking-points","80":"tag-tee-shot","81":"tag-tee-times-inc","82":"tag-things-post-round","83":"tag-things-roll","84":"tag-tiger-woods","85":"tag-time-critic","86":"tag-title-defence","87":"tag-tom-watson","88":"tag-toughest-masters","89":"tag-tournament-opposite","90":"tag-warren-smith","91":"tag-wedge-shot"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=597411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/597412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=597411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=597411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=597411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}