Brandel Chamblee’s distaste for LIV Golf is well documented.
Even above Rory McIlroy, the Golf Channel analyst could be the single biggest critic of the Saudi-backed golf league. Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are often on the receiving end of Chamblee’s scathing reviews of LIV.
But with The Masters less than a week away, analysts are being asked for their predictions. Shockingly, Chamblee listed a LIV Golf player in his top three favourites to claim the Green Jacket.
Brandel Chamblee names Jon Rahm as one of his three favouritesto win The Masters
Chamblee, speaking to Indo Sport, was asked to name his three favourites to win The Masters, and among them he named LIV star Jon Rahm.
He explained why the Spaniard is in prime position to claim his second Masters win:“Scottie Scheffler, even at half speed, is going to be tough to beat. Collin Morikawa, and I’ll be on pins and needles when he’s playing the 11th hole, as I may well pick him to win the event.
“And I’ll go with Jon Rahm. Partly because I just want to see Jon Rahm back playing great golf. I’d like to see him back. He’s an exciting player. He’s combustible. He’s combative. Plays with a little chip on his shoulder.
“As much as I cannot stand the Saudi-backed league that he plays on, the Ryder Cup nature of that league versus the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, is compelling as hell.
“If it were Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler as it was at the PGA last year, coming down the stretch, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, it would just be an incredibly compelling event to watch.
“They’re never dull, but it does feel like some of the majors the last couple of years have just gone to a different level of drama and excitement and quality. They’ve been amazing. The fallout of the fracture of the game at least, gives us a Ryder Cup feel in these major championships.”
The one prevailing benefit of LIV Golf’s formation is the animosity between LIV players and those still competing on the PGA Tour, which has generated fierce rivalries. McIlroy’s feud with DeChambeau set up a thrilling finale last year, and the same could easily happen in 2026 with him and Rahm.
The Northern Irishman’s feud with LIV golfers makes for must-see TV come major season!
Jon Rahm in top form entering The Masters
If you haven’t been keeping up with LIV Golf this season, then you won’t know that Rahm is at his brilliant best so far this season.
After a winless 2025 season, where he still won the LIV title due to the league’s scoring system, Rahm has already bounced back emphatically with a victory in Hong Kong.
In his five LIV events so far this season, Rahm has finished in the top two four times. He lost in a playoff to DeChambeau in his final outing before The Masters in South Africa, lost out to Anthony Kim in Adelaide, and lost to Elvis Smylie in Riyadh.
Rahm has already proven that he can navigate Augusta National with pressure heaped on his shoulders, having already won the Green Jacket, and he’s swinging it beautifully this season.
With Scheffler and McIlroy off their games, he could well be the favourite entering Augusta.