Damien Kayat previews the LIV Golf Bedminster event.
Torque GC performed brilliantly at the Greenbrier to cut into the series lead of 4Aces……. who am I kidding? Nobody cares about the team component of this competition (as much as they want you to think they do). Sure, they will get furiously competitive when the money is on the line. But it’s really a mere sideshow curiosity.
The only thing to really talk about is Bryson DeChambeau’s remarkable 58 on Sunday. That was only the 4th tour-level 58 in history (and obviously the first on the LIV tour). It really feels like it could add even more legitimacy to this venture. Call me old-fashioned, but am I the only one that thinks DeChambeau’s achievement was somewhat diminished by him wearing shorts? The tour now moves to Bedminster for the 11th stop of the series.
This event was staged last season and was won by former Open champ Henrik Stenson. This event actually courted a bit of controversy last year, with picketers venting their frustration at the tour for hosting an event funded by Saudi backers. Many of the 9/11 families felt aggrieved and this was only exacerbated by the decision to host it at a Trump layout.
I don’t foresee the same level of opprobrium this year. LIV just feels like a normalized tour these days. Still, the presence of the big guy can always manage to ruffle a few fathers. In any event, this week marks a return to the type of stern test that has come to typify the LIV Golf series.
Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster is a real behemoth at 7,580 yards. It is a long, demanding track that requires strong, accurate driving. Errant drives will be punished by a combination of water, heavy bunkering and plentiful trees. It’s little surprise that the deadly accurate Henrik Stenson won last year’s title.
The large greens will also put an emphasis on good putting. Players should be able to find plenty greens from the fairway and you can expect some long, challenging putts. Basically, look for ball-striking specialists who are able to drain plenty of putting yardage.
Henrik Stenson won last year’s inaugural LIV Bedminster event in the wake of being stripped of his Ryder Cup captaincy. The Swede will be back to defend his title after a recent uptick in form. Speaking of Ryder Cups, Bryson DeChamebeau must have played himself into captain’s pick territory last week.
Elsewhere, the likes of DJ and Brooks Koepka will obviously garner plenty of eyeballs this week. Cameron Smith has been playing some super consistent golf of late and Talor Gooch will want to cement his status as the number one player in LIV Golf this week. Gooch knows that one more victory will almost certainly force Zach Johnson’s hand and ensure Ryder Cup qualification.
Past Winner
2022: Henrik Stenson (-11)
Recent LIV Golf Champions
LIV Golf Greenbrier: Bryson DeChambeau
LIV Golf London: Cameron Smith
LIV Golf Valderrama: Talor Gooch
LIV Golf Washington: Harold Varner III
LIV Golf Oklahoma: Dustin Johnson
LIV Golf Singapore: Talor Gooch
Betting Favourites (To Win)
Odds TBA
Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Mito Pereira
Value Bet
Matthew Wolff
This one strikes me as a bit of a no-brainer after last week. Wolff- who has been vocal about his mental health issues- was recently chastised by Brooks Koepka in a stunning Sports Illustrated interview. The news seemed to galvanize the big-hitting American who went and finished 3rd at the Greenbrier. He shot a 61 in the first-round but couldn’t withstand the ridiculous DeChamebeau charge. Wollf finished in a tie for 2nd in this event last year. He drives the ball a mile and seems to be sorting out some of his short-game demons. He finished 4th in Total Driving and 2nd in Putting Average last week. Those two stats should prove crucial this week.
The Man to Beat- Bryson DeChambeau-
This one isn’t exactly the most original option. But you have to love the big-hitting American’s chances of making it back-to-back wins this week. Bryson’s weekend rounds of 61 and 58 at the Greenbrier featured some of the most devastating golf you can imagine. He has now finished in the top 10 in four of the last five LIV events. He also picked up a T4 finish at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill. The Bry-naissance is well under way and I can see it continuing on this long, unforgiving layout.
