At Trump Doral Resort last week, LIV Golf Miami offered players the biggest test they’ve ever given the week before a major. The downside? Winner Marc Leishman passed that exam with flying colours but the Aussie is not one of the 12 battle-hardened LIV players teeing up at the Masters next week at Augusta National.

The former PGA Tour host—the tree-lined, water-laden holes at Doral’s Blue Monster course—asked many difficult questions of the players. It’s no wonder Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott are among winners here.

“This is a major championship feel,” said Phil Mickelson, who won the PGA Tour event at Doral in 2009. “It’s a major championship difficulty and certainly major championship pins. It’s been a really tough test, and you had to fight hard to make pars.”

The stroke average on Day 2 was 75.111, more than three strokes over par and the second most-difficult round since LIV Golf began in 2022. The first of LIV Golf Andalucia at Valderrama last year was the league’s most difficult at +3.519 over par while Friday’s first round at Doral was the third toughest. The final round scoring average at Doral was 73.8— almost two strokes over par.

Sunday, frankly, was carnage, with Bryson DeChambeau one of the contenders eventually demolished by the Blue Monster. He started off in the mix but his charge was crippled by two double bogeys on the front nine. The reigning U.S. Open champion shot 75 to finish fifth at two-under total for the week. Mickelson was also in the mix early but a 73 sank him to sixth place at one under, five back of Leishman.

Leishman, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, was searching for his first LIV victory since joining in 2022 and first worldwide win in four years since the 2021 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The Aussie charged into the lead with four birdies in the first 10 holes and no dropped shots, setting up a nerve-wracking run home of eight straight gutsy pars. On the brutal par-4 18th, Leishman blocked his drive into the trees on the right and had to punch through a window and lay up short of the water. A classy, flighted wedge got him out of trouble and he drilled a 20-foot par putt to shoot four-under 68. At six-under total, Leishman earned a one-shot victory over Charl Schwartzel. Sergio Garcia was two shots behind in third place.

Garcia still had the 18th to play when Leishman finished and needed birdie to force a playoff but blocked his drive horribly into the trees. He made bogey to drop to third at four under.

“It was an unbelievable leaderboard,” Leishman said. “I saw all the guys right behind me and I knew the holes I had to finish off on. I played some of my best golf I’ve ever played today, especially coming off Singapore a couple weeks ago where I think I beat three people. Confidence wasn’t overly high. To win out here, you’re playing against top fields every week, so yeah, still just letting it sink in.”

Leishman plays on Cam Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC, who finished four over and won the team competition over DeChambeau’s Crushers GC by eight shots. It was Ripper’s fourth team win in the league.

Sergio Garcia - LIV Golf Miami - Lauren Sopourn

Lauren Sopourn

Meanwhile, the dozen LIV players headed to Augusta are by no means licking their wounds. Surviving a vicious test has former Masters champions like Garcia—who will play in his 100th career major—and three-time winner Mickelson feeling confident.

“I’m excited about it … I’m hoping that I play great and have a chance and make the cut and have a chance at winning,” Garcia said. “But even if I don’t, I want to enjoy it because I think I deserve it. It’s 100 majors, not a small feat. I want to really enjoy every single one I play.”

Added Mickelson, who at age 52 was T-2 at the 2023 Masters: “Yeah, I’m playing really well. I’m playing good golf. I’m driving it well. I’m hitting good iron shots, putting it well. I’m looking forward to competing at Augusta, a course I know very well, and feel like I have the game now and am hitting the shots to compete.”

Main Image: Lauren Sopourn