Inside the LIV Golf-PGA war: The 12 stars caught in the middle at the 2025 Masters

US president Donald Trump says a PGA-LIV Golf peace deal is proving harder to strike than an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. And there’s 12 stars about to be caught in the crossfire.

Just 12 LIV players will tee it up at the Masters as golf’s bitter civil war drags on.

Peace talks between the PGA Tour and breakaway LIV league have stalled amid uncertainty over what a reunification of the game might look like.

US president Donald Trump, who is involved in the negotiations, says a deal is proving harder to strike than an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Australian star and PGA player advisory council chairman Adam Scott has attended two meetings at the White House involving Trump, LIV supremo Yasir Al-Rumayyan, head of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Tiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monohan.

For the first time, the only place to watch the Masters live is Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

The cold war between the PGA and LIV shows no signs of ending.

Scott, 44, in the twilight of his career, admitted the talks had proved distracting.

“At the time when I stepped on to the PAC as chair, some of these issues didn’t exist, so that’s kind of built up over the last couple of years,” Scott said at Augusta on Monday.

“We do our best to take that pressure off when guys are playing tournaments.”

Seven of the LIV players at Augusta for the year’s first major are previous Masters winners with life-time exemptions to compete.

Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Tyrell Hatton are the only LIV stars with enough world ranking points (courtesy of high finishes in previous majors) to qualify in a Masters field of 95.

In-form Chilean Joaquin Nieman, who has dominated the LIV tour in recent months, received a special exemption from the Masters committee in January.

A sticking point to the PGA-LIV negotiation is the future of the LIV teams format and the Saudi-backed league’s desire to continue to host 54-hole tournaments around the globe.

The PGA Tour is winning the TV ratings war and appears to be prepared to hold its ground as golf’s traditional 72-hole format holds up with fans.

Outspoken US golf analyst Brandel Chamblee last month declared that the bumper Players Championship ratings did not bode well for the future of LIV.

“The PGA Tour is killing it and LIV is dying a slow, costly death,” Chamblee said.

“LIV players have seller’s remorse. They want the meritocratic cachet that competing at the highest level confers but they have shown in their choice to play for LIV that they’d rather have the money first and sue for the cachet. Trying to blur the distinction between gift and reward.

“The audience sees right through them, and chooses to watch those that prefer to play for history and legacy.”

Australian Marc Leishman, who won last week’s LIV Miami event, has not qualified for the Masters.

I CAN BE A MULTIPLE-MAJOR CHAMPION: SCOTT

By Michael Warner

Adam Scott, the owner of Australia’s only green jacket, says he still has a burning desire to become “a multiple major champion”.

Scott, 44, revealed he had begun targeting major tournaments in the twilight of his career.

“I’m (still) very motivated – it comes and goes though,” Scott said at Augusta on Monday.

“I don’t think I can have the 12-month focus that I used to. I mean, there’s life as well and I have a family and growing kids.

“I feel a strong sense to not miss their entire upbringing and it’s more demanding to stay at the top level out here.

“There are more great young players today and there are more coming through, so the balance of staying at the top is tough.

“But when you start getting to big events, the Players Championship and now the Masters, that’s when you really switch on – and I think I can do it in shorter periods but maybe not stretch (it) out all year.”

Scott, a winner at Augusta 12 years ago, has climbed back to No.32 in the world rankings.

“The dream of chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record (18 majors) is long gone, but I did have the belief that I can become a multiple major champion,” he said.

“And I do understand that you’re not going to be able to just show up … or I don’t want to leave it to just showing up and having a lucky week – I know there is a lot that has to go into it.

“I do want to be a multiple major champion.”

Adam Scott still has the burning desire to win golf’s biggest events. Picutre: Getty

Scott said he was also desperate to add several other “legacy” tournaments to his CV including the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament.

“I’d love to win another Australian Open (too) – it’s a special one – and the Open Championship, I mean, I felt like I was right there (in 2012), and I’d like to get both hands on that claret jug.”

Asked about his ambitions to captain the International team in the Presidents Cup, Scott said: “Actually, if we go into tournaments I’d like to win, that might be right up there, level with another major for me.

“I feel like I’ve given a lot to the International team and it’s been challenging for us, to say the least, over the years.

“I’d love to win as a player and then worry about the captaincy later.”

Scott said the secret to winning at Augusta was once length off the tee, but “was coming back to the wedges and the short game”.

“Augusta is such a challenge, it tests every part of your game, and then ultimately, at a major, it’s going to come down to the heart and the head to get it done,” he said.

Originally published as Inside the LIV Golf-PGA war: The 12 stars caught in the middle at the 2025 Masters