Welcome to LIV Golf Season 3. This season tees off in Mexico and with Jon Rahm joining LIV in the off-season, this is set to be an exciting season.
LIV kicks off its second full season of their 14-event schedule with Mayakoba for a second straight year hosting the season opener.
Charles Howell III took the individual title last year and Crushers GC took the team event. Crushers GC are the reigning LIV Team Champions. Crushers GC are led by their captain Bryson DeChambeau, Howell III, Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri.
Embed from Getty ImagesTaylor Gooch is the reigning LIV Individual Champion. He won 3 times on the LIV circuit last season and comfortably took the individual title. He has changed teams in the offseason though from Range Goats GC to Smash GC.
Smash GC now has 2 of the top 3 players on the individual standings from 2023 and they look like a strong team but the other 2 men on the roster may cost them if Brooks or Taylor has a bad week.
Embed from Getty ImagesNew to the LIV field this week is no other than winter marquee signing Jon Rahm. Rahm brings with him two people who automatically make this field better. Adrian Meronk and Tyrrell Hatton.
I honestly think ADRIAN MERONK shows up to LIV and shows them who’s boss immediately. Meronk is a great talent and was unlucky not to get a Ryder Cup spot. He should have really. I honestly think that was the final nail in the coffin for his relationship with the DP World Tour. Ever since then, you could tell he was disillusioned with the whole structure. I believe this led to his rebellion and joining LIV.
With the money on offer, you can’t blame him. You can’t blame anyone who goes and if you are one of those people that says they shouldn’t. Then you have never been offered a huge pay rise from a rival company for fewer hours. You’d take it in a heartbeat and you all know you would.
Embed from Getty ImagesTAYLOR GOOCH is on the radar this week as he seems to play well outside of the US. His course form is good apart from 2 final-round efforts. Last year he was -9 through 2 rounds and then posted a 5 over par in his final round to finish T11th.
In 2021 when the PGA Tour last played here as the World Wide Technology Championship. He carded 17 under par for the first 3 rounds.
After the season he had last season, you just can’t ignore the signs pointing towards Taylor here and if he can put all 3 rounds together. He will be up there contending.
CARLOS ORTIZ in his last 3 starts in his home country at Mayakoba has been inside the top 10 every time. That record can’t be ignored in this preview. He loves the layout and maybe with the home fans behind him he finds an extra gear and tops the leaderboard this week.
Carlos chose not to extend his Fireballs contract, even though they offered him one. He was their top individual scorer in 2023 finishing 15th in the standings. Maybe that played a part but instead, he opted to join Torque GC.
His new captain is our next bet. JOAQUIN NIEMANN who captains Torque GC loves it here, without the slow start last year with a 3 over par 74. He followed that up with 67 and 68 climbing to T11 in the process. He finished T5 the last time the PGA Tour came here. So, his form is good and he enjoys the layout of this course.
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The team markets are not on offer yet due to Jon Rahm’s team not currently on the roster but I expect the announcement to be made on Wednesday. So, I will update later this week when they are on offer.
LIV Mayakoba Event Information
Location: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Course: El Camaleon Golf Course
Prize Money: $25m ($20m Individual, $5m Team) Winner ($4m Individual, $3m Team)
Course Length: 7116 yards
Par: 71
Field: 54 (possibly)
Cut: No Cut
Last Year: Charles Howell III took the title on -16 with a 4-shot victory.
When to Bet: by 6.05 pm on Friday (UK Time)
Where to watch: LIV Golf Plus app, LIV Golf YouTube.
Time Difference: Mexico is 5 hours behind the UK. (-5 GMT)
Weather Forecast: Friday and Saturday dry. Rain on Sunday.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos