The top 7 LIV golfers NOT in the 2024 Masters field

The 2024 Masters begins Thursday, April 11, and several of LIV Golf's star players will be in search of a green jacket. However, several top LIV players are missing from the 2024 field list.

A total of 13 LIV professionals have qualified for this year's Masters. However, most of them earned their spots by being Masters champions or current major winners.

These players include Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith.

Because world ranking points are not awarded at LIV golf events, major exceptions are one of the few ways LIV golfers can be invited to the Masters. Another player, Joaquin Niemann, received special permission from Augusta National.

Those are the lucky few, but here are the unlucky others who played in LIV but still couldn't earn an invite to the Masters.

The best LIV players are missing from the Masters

1. Talor Gooch

Talor Gooch has been the brightest star on the course in LIV Golf's three-year existence. He won the individual title last year and is ranked 10th entering this season. Gooch, who has been vocal about his deserving of big starts, has won a total of three LIV events, but since they failed to earn him any world ranking points, he has fallen to 568th in the OWGR. Only the top 50 make it to the Masters.

2. Louis Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen is a great champion who won the Open in St. Andrews in 2010. He also has a great record at Augusta, finishing second in 2012. Despite winning the DP World Tour-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December, he is ranked 117th and runner-up finishes do not earn you a lifetime exemption to Augusta National.

3. Abraham Ancer

Before joining LIV Golf in 2022, Abraham Ancer appeared to have a bright future on the PGA Tour. He picked up one win in 2021 but has fallen steeply in the world rankings since moving to LIV. Ancer qualified for the Masters last year and finished T39, but was unable to do so this year.

4. Mito Pereira

Mito Pereira is best known for his near-victory at the 2022 PGA Championship, where he gave Justin Thomas the win with a Sunday 75. He finished 8th in the LIV Golf individual rankings last season.

5. Harold Varner III

Harold Varner III was a fan favorite on the PGA Tour before moving to LIV Golf. He has never won a Tour event, but he did have a victory at the 2022 PIF Saudi International. Last season he won the LIV Golf event in Washington DC and placed 7th in the individual rankings.

6. Dean Burmester

Dean Burmester has four DP World Tour victories in his career. He also won the recent LIV Golf event in Miami. That puts him in third place in the 2024 rankings, but that ranking doesn't get you into the Masters.

7. Paul Casey

During his long professional career, 46-year-old Paul Casey won three PGA Tour events and 15 DP World Tour tournaments. He has a great record at Augusta, posting five top-10 finishes in 15 starts, including a T5 at the 2016 Masters, but he won't play this year. Casey is currently ranked 8th in the LIV Golf Individual Rankings.

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