The LIV Tour returned from a three-week hiatus at last week’s Hong Kong Open, with Spanish veteran Sergio Garcia holding his nerve to secure a 2nd LIV Golf title.
2025 LIV Golf Series
LIV Golf Singapore
Sentosa Golf Club (The Serapong), Singapore
14th-16th March
The 45-year-old Spaniard carded a final-round 63 to secure a comfortable three-shot victory over big-hitting Dean Burmester. The Spaniard has voiced his desire to play in this year’s Ryder Cup and Luke Donald had to have taken notice of that resounding triumph. Perhaps more interestingly, Phil Mickelson picked up his maiden podium finish at Fanling, indicating that his game is in fine working order ahead of next month’s Masters (where he has almost mythic status). The tour moves from East Asia to Southeast Asia for the 3rd edition of LIV Golf Singapore. Both renewals have been won by Americans, with Talor Gooch claiming the title in 2023 and Brooks Koepka winning last year’s edition. Sentosa Golf Club will take over hosting duties for a 3rd successive season.
Located on the southern shores of Singapore, Sentosa Golf Club is a visual feast, with the beautiful blue waters of the Singapore Straits serving as the perfect backdrop for the golfing action. Opened in 1982, this course was named the World’s Best Golf Course in 2023 and Asia’s Best Course in 2024. It also hosted the Singapore Open between 2005 and 2022. The Serapong wears its dragon influences on its sleeve, with the stretch of holes from 3-7 known affectionately as the ‘Dragon’s Tail’ (which features a few intimidating par 4’s). The par-4 5th includes a large rock formation known as the ‘Dragon’s Tooth’ and a false front known as the ‘Dragon’s Mouth’. So, they really lean into that at the Serapong. Measuring nearly 7,500 yards, this certainly opens itself up to the bombers. The course features a variety of jungle growth and beaches, with water in play on five holes. Players will need to weigh up their options in various risk-reward scenarios. Those risk-reward scenarios will result in some missed greens and scrambling could come to the fore this week: Koepka topped the Scrambling charts last year.
Jon Rahm continued his trend of finishing in the top ten of every single LIV Golf event, finishing in a tie for 6th at Fanling (on a course that I didn’t really think suited his style). Rahm barely made it into the top ten here year, finishing six shots off the pace in a tie for 10th. Joaquin Niemann has finished inside the top ten here for the last two seasons and is a perennial contender in LIV Golf events. Defending champion Brooks Koepka has been something of a Serapong specialist but comes into this week’s event ranked 22nd in the current individual standings. Bryson’s power should theoretically give him a great chance this week while Sergio Garcia- last week’s winner- lost to Gooch in a playoff here in 2023.
Past Winners
2024: Brooks Koepka (-15)
2023: Talor Gooch (-17)
Betting Favourites (To Win): Jon Rahm (6/1), Joaquin Niemann (8/1), Tyrell Hatton (17/2), Sergio Garcia (14/1), Bryson DeChambeau (14/1)
Value Bet
Peter Uihlein- To Win (50/1)
Big-hitting American Peter Uihlein produced his best performance of the season in Hong Kong last week, registering two strong rounds before fading on Sunday to tie for 6th. Still, it was an encouraging performance from someone who has now finished inside the top 30 in his last five starts (including a victory in Qatar). Uihlein finished T22 last year but alsmot cracked the top ten in 2023 (he settled for a T11 finish). Uihlein is one of the bigger hitters in the field and he should be able to get himself into some great positions.
The Man to Beat- Sergio Garcia- To Win (14/1)
Sergio just makes sense this week. He won in style in Hong Kong and came so close to claiming his maiden LIV title here in 2023. He produced a better score in each subsequent round in Hong Kong, going bogey-free over the last two rounds. He currently leads the league in driving accuracy and (crucially) sits 2nd in Scrambling. Garcia currently leads the individual standings and back-to-back wins would certainly get Luke Donald’s full attention.
