Two LIV golfers may well be very annoyed after The Masters announce groups and tee times for opening two days

Add as preferred source on Google

While almost nothing in golf can quite compare to the feeling of watching Thursday at The Masters, the announcement of the tee times does just help whet the appetite for what is to come over the rest of the week at Augusta National.

With Augusta National confirming the tee times for the opening round of this year’s Masters, golf fans will begin to assess how each of the potential contenders find themselves in the draw.

It is hard to read too much into the groupings, but there are some very interesting choices which could lead to some fascinating dynamics over the first two days of the first major of the year.

And it seems that a couple of LIV Golf players may be particularly frustrated with where they have ended up.

Interesting groupings at The Masters may upset LIV Golf pair

Of course, slow play has been one of the big talking points on the PGA Tour in 2025. And there was further anger at the Valero Texas Open as Brian Harman took a considerable amount of time over a number of his shots on his way to victory.

With that, having potentially fiery characters such as Patrick Reed and Billy Horschel in the groups directly behind Harman this week could be intriguing.

However, it is later on in the order where the most notable choices have been made.

Brooks Koepka hit out at the penultimate group on Sunday at the 2023 Masters for being brutally slow, with Patrick Cantlay being viewed as the main reason for their pace. As reported by Sky Sports, Cantlay would defend himself, but it would be fair to say that the Ryder Cup hero does tend to be methodical out on the course.

So it may not please the five-time major champion to see Cantlay in the group ahead once again on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Tyrrell Hatton has been put in the same group as Tom Kim. Hatton is known for his outbursts on the golf course, so putting him with the South Korean – Kim has been one of the slowest players on tour – could also lead to some tension, particularly if the Englishman is not having the best day.

Better news for Rory McIlroy ahead of the first two rounds at Augusta National

It looks to be better news for Rory McIlroy as the Northern Irishman strives to win his first Masters title.

McIlroy has been grouped with Ludvig Aberg and Akshay Bhatia for the first two rounds this year. Of course, McIlroy is a big fan of Aberg’s game, with the pair being Ryder Cup teammates.

Aberg wastes no time over the ball, which will help as Bhatia can be a little more thoughtful. So you would think that the trio should make good time.

And given that Aberg and Bhatia have plenty of talent this year – Aberg won the Genesis Invitational while Bhatia was a revelation at The Players Championship – it could allow for McIlroy to get into a good rhythm for those absolutely crucial opening rounds.