The Masters began with the lowest number of LIV Golfers since the league's inception in 2022.
In total, just 10 players from the circuit were among the field of 91 as the Augusta National began, and at the halfway stage, that number has been halved after five LIV Golfers missed the cut.
Of the five who did enough to earn a third-round tee time, only Legion XIII player Tyrrell Hatton has something approaching a realistic chance of troubling runaway leader Rory McIlroy.
While the defending champion opened up a six-shot lead on Friday with a late birdie blitz, Hatton is in T7, seven back of McIlroy to keep his hopes of a maiden Major triumph just about intact.
Hatton followed a two-over 74 on Thursday with a near-immaculate 66 in the second round, with a bogey at the 18th the only blemish.
Dustin Johnson, who won The Masters in 2020, has reached the weekend for the first time since 2023 after his one-over 73 in the first round was followed by a 71 in the second round.
After the opening round, Sergio Garcia was the only LIV Golfer not over par with his even-par 72, but the 2017 champion could only follow that with a three-over 75 in the second round to stand in a tie for 45th ahead of the weekend.
One of the pre-tournament favorites was 2023 champion Jon Rahm, but he had it all to do after a six-over 78 on Thursday.
The Spaniard performed far better on Friday with a two-under 70, but with a 16-shot deficit to McIlroy on four over, it already looks like his chance of a second Masters title will need to wait another year.
The final LIV Golfer to make the cut is 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel, who is on the same score as Rahm after rounds of 75 and 73.
Of the five LIV Golfers to miss the cut, by far the most shocking is Bryson DeChambeau. The Crushers GC captain was expected to contend for the title, as he had in the previous two editions, particularly after back-to-back wins on LIV Golf leading up to the tournament.
He was four over after the first round, but appeared to be heading safely above the cut line, which was set at four over, until a triple bogey at the 18th on Friday saw him head for the exit.
The other LIV Golfers leaving Augusta National early are two-time winner Bubba Watson, Tom McKibbin, Carlos Ortiz and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith, whose run of consecutive missed cuts in Majors now stands at six.
LIV Golf Leaderboard At The 2026 Masters
- T7 -4 Tyrrell Hatton
- T24 E Dustin Johnson
- T45 +3 Sergio Garcia
- T47 +4 Jon Rahm
- T47 +4 Charl Schwartzel
- MC +5 Bubba Watson
- MC +6 Bryson DeChambeau
- MC +7 Tom McKibbin
- MC +7 Cameron Smith
- MC +11 Carlos Ortiz
