Bayless claims Brooks Koepka crumbled at Masters as he ‘hasn’t been fire-tested enough at LIV’

Skip Bayless believes Jon Rahm beat Brooks Koepka to Masters glory on a gripping day of golf on Sunday due to the latter’s participation in LIV Golf.

A final round of 69 from Rahm, while four-time Major winner Koepka misfired to a three-over round of 75, saw the Spaniard claim his first green jacket. For Koepka, the wait for a first Masters title goes on.

And the American might have to wait for a while, if Bayless is right. He believes that LIV’s 54-hole tournament setup, on a sparser calendar than the PGA Tour, hindered Koepka when it mattered most.

‘Surprised John Rahm stared down Brooks Koepka eye to eye for 31 holes on Sunday, intimidated the intimidator into a collapse,’ Bayless wrote on Twitter.

‘Koepka hasn’t been fire-tested enough at LIV, got to dominate Augusta in perfect weather for 2 rds, then played only 6 holes in 48 hrs. Rahmbo too tough.’

Brooks Koepka was left wondering what could have been after his fourth Masters round

Koepka crumbled while playing partner Jon Rahm (right) overtook him with a great final round

Rahm poses alongside wife Kelley (right) in his green jacket holding the trophy at Augusta 

Koepka himself offered no excuses on a disappointing day. Ironically, had the Masters been a 54-hole tournament then Koepka, not Rahm, would have a green jacket.

‘Obviously it’s super disappointing, right? Didn’t play good enough to win,’ he said. 

‘Hit some shots where I also didn’t feel like I got some good breaks. Didn’t feel like I did too much wrong but that’s how golf goes sometimes. The way Jon played today was pretty impressive.’

Koepka didn’t want to be drawn too heavily on if he was sharp enough having played on the LIV schedule.

‘I mean, we’re still the same people. I know if I’m healthy I can compete,’ he said. ‘I don’t think any of the guys that played this event thinks otherwise, either.

‘When Phil plays good, we know he’s going to compete,’ he added. ‘P-Reed, the same thing. I think that’s just manufactured by the media that we can’t compete anymore; that we are washed up.’ 

Koepka ended the day tied second with Phil Mickelson, a LIV colleague. Patrick Reed was fourth and Joaquin Niemann was 16th, with four players making the top-20 from the Saudi-backed rebel tour. 

Mickelson began the final round 10 shots behind Koepka but fired the low score of the day, a seven-under-par 65, leaping into contention.

Phil Mickelson had a brilliant final round – his score of 65 propelled him up the leaderboard

LIV’s Joaquin Niemann was 16th and earned himself some precious world ranking points 

Although it proved too little too late for Mickelson, the six-time major said he and the others from LIV Golf were not out to prove a point to other players in the field.

‘I wouldn’t look at it like that,’ Mickelson said. ‘I’m very appreciative that we’re here; that we are able to play in the majors. And I thought it was exciting that this tournament rose above it all to have the best players in the world here and lost all the pettiness; that was great.’

Augusta National cleared the way last December for eligible players from LIV Golf to compete in the year’s first major.

If not exempt, a player’s standing in the world ranking is the key for them to gain access to the majors, and LIV Golf players have tumbled down the list as they await a ruling on their eligibility while competing on the Saudi-backed circuit.

Niemann was more than pleased with his Masters performance as it will afford him some ranking points.

“Hopefully they figure something out, then let all the top players be playing with the top players in the majors,” Niemann said. “I think this week was important just in case. I mean, hopefully get a few points.”