Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and Tyrrell Hatton seem likely to be LIV Golf’s biggest threats at the Masters, while Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson appear unable to compete… and will the ailing Cam Smith even make it to Augusta?

Before a single shot was played at LIV Golf Miami last week, Jon Rahm insisted he was “confident” that he or one of his new colleagues could win the Masters.

After play concluded Sunday night, the reigning Augusta National champion admitted it would be a “great story” if an LIV Rebel could win on golf’s biggest stage.

The Saudi-backed circuit may have attracted some of the best players in the world during its expensive recruitment drive since 2022, but only one – Brooks Koepka at the 2023 PGA Championship – has won a major title while playing under the LIV umbrella. Not a single rebel has put on the green jacket yet.

LIV CEO Greg Norman made it clear 12 months ago that there would be major celebrations on Augusta’s 18th green if one of his charges pulled it off.

Koepka came closest, Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson did their best shots, but Rahm ultimately had the upper hand. With the Spaniard now in their ranks, LIV bring a threatening group to the first major championship of the year.

The threat they pose was plain to see after the fifth round of the LIV season concluded on Sunday evening. Of the thirteen players who headed north from Miami to Augusta, eight finished under par on Trump Doral National’s treacherous Blue Monster course.

Perhaps surprisingly, Sergio Garcia was the best choice. He finished at 11 under for the tournament but had to settle for second place after a nail-biting two-hole play-off with South African Dean Burmester.

The Spaniard, who won the Green Jacket in 2017, was a model of consistency all week. He dropped just four shots over the course of three rounds and made a long putt on the penultimate hole of the tournament to keep himself in contention.

Rahm heads to Augusta National without having won in a year, at least as an individual, after another weekend where he was solid but not good enough to win.

His Legion

Both Rahm and Hatton had three shots off the top two, with costly bogeys ruining their chances.

However, there is always the feeling that Rahm can step up a gear if he wants to, and he will have to be at his best to have any chance of competing with former PGA Tour foe Scottie Scheffler next week.

When asked if his move to LIV has added an extra dimension to his battle with current world number 1 and Rory McIlroy at Augusta, Rahm said: ‘The Masters is the Masters.

‘I don’t think it makes a difference whether you play the PGA Tour, LIV, European Tour or Sunshine Tour. A major is a major.

‘You could have asked me the same question last year to a number of LIV players. I wouldn’t say anything has been added to it.’

Perhaps the man most confident about the Masters is Hatton, who for a moment looked as if he could only win here, as two shots proved decisive towards the end of his round.

As always with the dashing Englishman, Hatton’s biggest opponent is often himself. If he can control his emotions, it will only put him in a better position to thrive.

If you’re into omens, one remarkable statistic shows why this could be Hatton’s moment. IOver the past two decades, the average Masters winner was 32 years old, ranked 17th in the world and had eight previous starts at Augusta.

Hatton turned 32 in October, is currently ranked 17th in the world and will make his eighth appearance at the Masters this year. Based on the evidence in Miami, he’s not far away.

The depth of LIV’s talent heading into Augusta is evident in the next group of players, who finished within two shots of Rahm and Hatton.

Big-time player Bryson DeChambeau will be determined to bend Augusta to his will. He has been quietly putting together an extremely impressive run of results in LIV events this season without making the podium.

The former US Open champion has finished in the top 10 in four of five LIV events this season, posting a credible seven under for the tournament.

One of those back was another Green Jacket holder in the form of Reed and Joaquin Niemann, perhaps the most in-form man in golf right now.

The Chilean has battled his way to the Masters by winning the Australian Open and two LIV events this season and posting two more top-5s on the DP World Tour. He will be a solid outside bet for Masters glory.

Adrian Meronk, Europe’s 2023 player of the year, was unable to build on a brilliant second round finish at six under. He finished with two over on Sunday, finishing seven behind the leaders.

Dustin Johnson also struggled with consistency. The 39-year-old’s Masters victory came under the cloud of Covid-19. There were no patrons and he would undoubtedly do anything to don the Green Jacket again in front of thousands of fans.

He was always off the pace of the leaders and a two-over round on Sunday saw him finish in the middle of the field at one-under for the tournament.

Bubba Watson, with his graceful and effortless left-handed swing, would have been tied with Garcia and others at the top of the leaderboard after day one had he not bogeyed the 18th.

But going six over par in his next two rounds wiped out any early momentum and it would be remarkable if he were to win a third Masters title next week.

Charl Schwartzel, winner at Augusta in 2011, was the worst of the South African contingent representing their Stinger GC team this week.

While fellow countryman Dean Burmester lifted the trophy and Louis Oosthuizen threatened with a victory, Schwartzel was towards the back of the field with four to spare.

Then there’s Koepka, who has endured a torrid week and seems a million miles away from the man who threatened to trigger an LIV takeover at Augusta 12 months ago.

After a solid opening round of three-under on Friday, he posted back-to-back cards of five-over to finish well back in the field.

It’s rare that his name isn’t mentioned during the weekend of major tournaments, but he was a passenger during the proceedings in Miami.

However, he is a man for the big occasion and can never be ruled out. After losing at Augusta the previous year, he won a third PGA Championship title just a month later.

Over the past decade, Koepka has played in 35 majors. He has won five, placed in the top five seven times and placed in the top ten thirteen times. He loves the big stage.

For Mickelson, his struggle continues. The 53-year-old has only finished below par in two of LIV’s five events this season.

Two four-over rounds made for an even-par round on Saturday, as he failed to make an impact here.

However, the three-time Masters champion proved last Sunday that he can still handle it.

And then there’s Cameron Smith. Will the Australian even make it to the Masters?

He was forced to leave this event after Friday’s opening round, in which he finished three over due to food poisoning.

It is thought he will be good enough to compete at Augusta, but he is looking for the kind of form that saw him beat McIlroy to win the Open at St Andrews in 2022.

One thing is certain. There are plenty of reasons why LIV Golf is excited about the Masters. Their thirteen players include the defending champions and a lot of talent and experience.

Don’t be surprised if Norman gets the party on the 18th green on Sunday night that he so desperately wanted 12 months ago.