LIV Golf praised for making change which gives them opportunity to really go head to head with the PGA Tour this week

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While the thoughts of so many have already turned to Augusta National and The Masters, there is an intriguing battle coming up this week with LIV Golf playing their first event in USA this season.

It has hardly been an impressive start to the year for LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka admitted LIV had not made enough progress. And he is not alone.

Brandel Chamblee said LIV is dying after viewing figures for The Players Championship increased from last year. Meanwhile, Paul McGinley questioned how long the PIF will continue to fund LIV after spending so much already.

The challenge for LIV is earning credibility amongst its critics.

LIV Golf told it has a brilliant opportunity to outshine the PGA Tour

Their players winning major titles will certainly help. But it seems that some think that LIV have a great chance to make a statement this week.

The PGA Tour heads to the Valero Texas Open this week, with many of the biggest names taking the week off ahead of The Masters. Meanwhile, LIV Golf’s next event will take place at Doral.

It is LIV’s first event of the year in the States. And of course, there are virtually no doubts over whether their biggest names will play – unless there are any issues with injury or illness.

And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that LIV will hardly have a better chance to outshine the PGA Tour.

“I love going back to Doral, because there is a bit of nostalgia. Early in my career, it seemed like the Florida swing, everything started building towards The Masters when we ended up at Doral. And it is fun going back. And I think you called it right when we did the Golf Today Roundtable on Monday where now that they’re playing, call it the big boy golf course – I think that was your words – and yes, I think this will give us an opportunity to see where Bryson’s game is and Jon Rahm and the rest of them. There’s been plenty of players who seem to be in good form on LIV Golf – Joaquin Niemann being at the top of that herd I would say right now. However, we haven’t seen them on something that’s going to be a demanding test,” he said.

“And I’ll give LIV credit for adjusting the schedule. This is a good lead in for those players going to The Masters. From 30,000 feet, the bigger picture, if I’m going to play the role of Eamon Lynch on this podcast, it’s going to be the head to head comparison between whatever’s going to happen in San Antonio at the Texas Open and whatever’s going to happen in Miami. This is the best opportunity that LIV Golf has ever had to truly go head to head with the PGA Tour, and I’m not just talking about on TV – certainly, that’s a part of it – but certainly, going on the main FOX network and being the eastern timezone, all those things are going to factor in. And now you have two fields, probably have an apples to apples comparison we’ve never had before, I can’t wait for that.”

How LIV Golf’s players performed at the 2024 Masters as Jon Rahm defended his title

There is definitely a window of opportunity for LIV to attract more viewers. And it would be a real blow to the league if the Valero Texas Open had a higher audience.

Meanwhile, LIV really needs its players to enjoy an impressive showing at The Masters next week. They had mixed results in 2024, with Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith their only representatives in the top 10.

Meanwhile, there were just five LIV players in the top 30. Defending champion Jon Rahm marked his first major as a LIV player by finishing on nine over par.

It would definitely be great for LIV to have any of their players win at Augusta. But LIV really needs one of their players to win their first major title at some stage to prove that the league can help elevate talent.

So it will be fascinating to see how a number of their biggest stars fare at Doral.