LIV Golf’s Kevin Na Withdraws From 2023 Masters

Kevin Na pulled out of the Masters after the front nine on Thursday.

Kevin Na withdrew from the Masters on Thursday morning after the completion of his first nine holes at Augusta National. According to an official Masters release, the LIV Golf member pulled out of the tournament due to illness. 

Na was making his 12th start at Augusta National and had finished in the top 15 in his last three appearances. On Thursday morning, Na struggled out of the gates, making a double-bogey 6 on his opening hole. He went on to shoot a 4-over 40 on the front nine. 

Due to illness, @kevinna915 has officially withdrawn from @TheMasters Tournament after completing nine holes of his first round. #themasters

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

In June 2022, Na decided to resign from the PGA Tour and join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. In last week’s LIV Orlando event, Na finished T22. Now that the 39-year-old has withdrawn from the tournament, there are only 17 LIV Golf members competing in the 87th Masters. 

The CEO of LIV Golf, Greg Norman, who wasn’t invited to attend the first major of the year, has said that if a LIV player wins, all 18 members in the field will wait on the 18th green to congratulate him on Sunday afternoon.

Na was paired with Mike Weir in the first tee-time of day at 8 a.m. ET. Now, Weir—the 2024 Presidents Cup International Team captain—will play the first round of the Masters alone.