Joaquin Niemann is flying high atop the LIV individual standings after claiming an incredible 5th LIV win of the season at JCB. The Chilean, who dominated the field last time out, would secure this season’s individual title were he to score just 2.37 more points than Jon Rahm this week.
2025 LIV Golf Series
LIV Golf Chicago
Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, Chicago, Illinois
8th- 10th August
Joaquin Niemann is flying high atop the LIV individual standings after claiming an incredible 5th LIV win of the season at JCB. The Chilean, who dominated the field last time out, would secure this season’s individual title were he to score just 2.37 more points than Jon Rahm this week. The burly Spainard has picked up five top-5 finishes this season but may live to regret missing out on that elusive victory. At least his side- Legion XIII- looks well poised in the team tournament (as if anyone really cares about that). This week marks the penultimate event in the regular season, with players jostling for position ahead of the season-ending Team Championship in Michigan. The tour descends on Chicago for the 4th consecutive season (the Windy City is the only city that has hosted a LIV event every year). LIV Golf will also be returning to stunning Bolingbrook Golf Club for this year’s renewal.
Designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest, this course opened in 2002 and was ranked by GolfPass as the No.1 public course in Illinois last year. The course is visually dramatic, with elevated greens and seven lakes lending an added sense of drama. The yardage has increased markedly for this year’s edition, with the 12th- which was played as a 491-yard par-4 last year- converted into a gargantuan 621-yard par-5. Still, this is not one of the courses that demands bombing. This week will reward strong approach players. In fact, last year’s leaderboard closely mirrored the season-ending GIR stats. The course features a few dramatic par 3’s, with the 6th acting as the designated ‘party hole’ (it is a 151-yard hole featuring an island green). But it will be the 237-yard par-3 4th that will give players nightmares this week. The beastly par-3 yielded just four birdies last year, averaging 3.36 over the three rounds (it essentially played as a par-3 and a half).
Jon Rahm will be hoping for a repeat of his heroics from last year, where he captured his 2nd LIV title to secure the LIV individual trophy. Rahm currently leads the tour in GIR and should be in the mix again this year. Niemann finished runner-up here last year and knows a similar finish will almost certainly guarantee him the individual title. Bryson DeChambeau retains a mathematical chance of winning the title (but that would require a narrative so convoluted it would make Michael Bay blush). There are plenty of long-term permutations at stake, with players running out of time to secure their guaranteed LIV future. Bubba Watson made a huge move at JCB, moving up to 13th in the standings with a runner-up finish. He is now comfortably ensconced inside the Lock Zone (places 1-24), meaning that he is well placed to secure his playing rights for next year. Players hovering in and around the Drop Zone will be desperate for a solid showing this week.
Past Winners
2024: Jon Rahm (-11) *Boilingsbrook
2023: Bryson DeChambeau (-13)
2022: Cameron Smith (-13)
Betting Favourites (To Win): Bryson DeChambeau (5/1), Jon Rahm (11/2), Joaquin Niemann (13/2), Tyrell Hatton (17/2), Talor Gooch (14/1)
Value Bet
Tom McKibben- To Win (33/1)
Tom McKibben has come to life in the latter portion of the LIV Golf campaign, finishing 5th in Dallas- where he was just one shot off the pace- and 4th at Valderrama. He will have felt a bit disappointed with the missed cut at familiar Royal Portrush. But he got right back on it at JCB, picking up an 11th placed finish that moved him to 15th in the current LIV standings. He ranks 7th on tour for GIR and should be a great fit for this layout.
The Man to Beat- Jon Rahm- To Win (11/2)
Rahm knows that nothing short of victory this week will ruin his chances of regaining his individual LIV title. Rahm has picked up 15 worldwide top 10’s since claiming the title here last season (he memorably choked in contention at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow). Be that as it may, Rahm is a man for the big occasion. The defending individual points champion is a perfect statistical fit for this layout, leading the tour in GIR and ranking 2nd, 4th and 7th in birdies made, scrambling opportunities and driving distance, respectively.
