10 LIV Golfers Earn Masters Spots for 2026 Tournament

Controversial Saudi-backed league players make up over 10% of the field at Augusta National

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a golf tournament, with players and the course broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The Masters' decision to welcome LIV golfers into the field reflects the complex divisions within the sport of golf.Augusta Today

The 2026 Masters tournament at Augusta National will feature 10 players from the LIV Golf league, a controversial Saudi-backed circuit that has drawn criticism and defections from the PGA Tour. This group of LIV golfers makes up over 10% of the 91-player field for golf's first major championship of the year.

Why it matters

The inclusion of LIV golfers at the Masters is a significant development, as the PGA Tour has banned players who have joined the rival league. This has created tension and division within the sport, with the Masters taking a more inclusive approach compared to other major tournaments.

The details

The 10 LIV golfers who qualified for the 2026 Masters are Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter. These players earned their spots through a variety of exemptions, including past major championship wins, top finishes in previous Masters, and their current world golf rankings.

  • The 2026 Masters tournament will take place from April 10-13, 2026.
  • The LIV Golf league was launched in 2022, drawing high-profile defections from the PGA Tour.

The players

Dustin Johnson

A former world No. 1 golfer who has won two major championships, including the 2020 Masters.

Augusta National Golf Club

The private golf club that hosts the annual Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“The Masters has always been about celebrating the greatest players in golf, and that includes those who have chosen to play on the LIV tour.”

— Fred Ridley, Chairman, Augusta National Golf Club

“It's great to see the Masters taking an inclusive approach and allowing all qualified players to compete, regardless of their tour affiliations.”

— Dustin Johnson

What’s next

The 2026 Masters will be closely watched to see how fans and the broader golf community react to the presence of LIV golfers at the prestigious tournament.

The takeaway

The inclusion of LIV golfers at the 2026 Masters highlights the ongoing tensions and divisions within professional golf, as the sport navigates the emergence of the Saudi-backed league and its impact on the traditional PGA Tour ecosystem.