5 LIV Golf stars miss cut after desperate bid to gain world ranking points

15 March 2024 , 19:20

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Graeme McDowell missed the cut in Macau (Image: Getty Images)

Five LIV Golf stars in Harold Varner III, Graeme McDowell, Anthony Kim, Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra and Danny Lee all missed the cut at the Asian Tour's International Series event in Macau.

In total 22 LIV stars teed it up in Macau this week, with the breakaway circuit on a three-week break between tournaments. Not only does the event give those in the field a chance to top-up their game, it also provides a chance to earn some much needed world ranking points, following the league's latest decision to give up their hunt for Official World Golf Ranking recognition.

All of Varner, McDowell, Kim, Lopez-Chacarra and Lee all failed to capitalise though, enduring a tough week by missing the 36-hole cut line which was set at four-under by those in action.

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Varner came closest to making it into Saturday's third round, agonisingly missing the cut line by a shot after shooting three-under-par across his two rounds. The former PGA Tour star started his week in solid fashion, carding a three-under 67 on day one, but from there he failed to kick on.

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Remarkably Varner carded three birdies and no bogies in his second round, however a nightmare triple bogey seven at the par-four seventh ruined his hopes of weekend golf. Things were even tougher for McDowell, whose two-over for the week saw him way out of contention over a frustrating two days.

Two shots further back came Lopez-Chacarra, and he was also joined by Kim at four-over across 36 holes. For the latter it was a first OWGR-sanctioned event in 12 years after a lengthy spell away from the game before making a shock return to sign with LIV earlier this month.

Anthony Kim's struggles continued in Macau (Getty Images)

The rust is still clear to see though, with Kim following up finishes of 53rd and 50th on the LIV setup with his missed cut in Macau. Then came Lee - a previous winner on the breakaway circuit and Tucson in 2023 - who struggled across the opening two rounds to end at five-over.

It was not all bad news for the LIV representatives though, with one of the Saudi-backed league's hottest stars in David Puig in a share for the lead at 11-under. The youngster - who turned pro to join LIV in 2022 - already has two wins to his name on the Asian Tour, claiming the International Series Singapore last October, as well as last month's Malaysian Open.

Puig is tied alongside South African Jbe Kruger and 11-under, and also has more LIV company just behind him. Mito Pereira finds himself just one shot back at 10-under, while recently crowned International Series Oman champion Carlos Ortiz is a one further behind at nine-under. He is joined by 4Aces star Pat Perez too, who is looking for his first victory in seven years.

Joshua Lees