LIV Golfers (mostly) struggled during the first round of the 2023 Masters

Dustin Johnson defected from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit in order to play less and earn more.

Well, it turns out that isn’t exactly the best recipe for getting in shape to play at major event like the Masters. Aside from Brooks Koepka —who is tied for the lead with Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland at 7-under par — the 18 LIV Golf players who teed it up at Augusta National on Thursday found themselves in trouble early. Eleven of the 18 finished even par or worse.

Only two LIV Golf players are currently inside the Top-20, though another four are just one stroke back of that threshold.

Familiar names like Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio García will have to hope the weather holds up and they can shoot low scores on Friday or risk missing the cut.

Here’s how the LIV field fared on Day 1:

• T1. Brooks Koepka — 7-under (65)
• T17. Cameron Smith —2-under (70)

• T26. Patrick Reed — 1-under (71)
• T26. Joaquin Niemann — 1-under (71)

• T26. Phil Mickelson — 1-under (71)
• T26. Dustin Johnson — 1-under (71)
• T37. Talor Gooch — E (72)
• T37. Abraham Ancer — E (72)
• T37. Harold Varner III — E (72)
• T45. Jason Kokrak — 1-over (73)
• T54. Bryson DeChambeau — 2-over (74)
• T54. Charl Schwartzel — 2-over (74)
• T54. Thomas Pieters — 2-over (74)
• T54. Sergio Garcia — 2-over (74)
• T54. Mito Peirera — 2-over (74)
• T73. Louis Oosthuizen — 3-over (75)
• T78. Bubba Watson — 5-over (77)
• WD. Kevin Na — WD (played nine holes, 4-over par)

More Masters:

• Mike Weir played the most serene back nine after LIV Golf’s Kevin Na withdrew from the Masters

• 14 best photos of Tiger Woods’ first day at the 2023 Masters Tournament

• Viktor Hovland’s loud, azalea-themed floral shirt at the Masters got roasted by golf fans