LIV Golf needs an explosive week after their embarrassing opening foray into syndicated viewing. They have chosen a fairly good week to do it, with the US PGA Tour still absorbing Scottie Scheffler’s success at TPC Sawgrass.
2023 LIV Golf Series
LIV Golf Tucson
The Gallery Golf Club, Tucson, Arizona
17th-19th March
Golf is currently embroiled in something of an existential quandary, with the R&A and USGA pushing ahead with plans to curb ball flight. Modified balls would attempt to curb the emphasis on distance in the current game. I’m sure that Norman and co will pounce on this bit of pedantry with self-righteousness, proclaiming themselves as a force for golfing democracy (sports-washing be damned).
Liv Golf heads to Tucson for the inaugural staging of the LIV Golf Tucson. Let’s see if anyone will remember who wins this event in three weeks’ time. Side-question: can you name the player who won the first event this year (answer below)?
The Gallery Golf Club
Eagle-eyed onlookers will recall that the Gallery Golf Club hosted the 2007 and 2008 World Golf Championship Match Play. This par 71 looks like a monster at around 7,400 yards. But the course plays considerably shorter due to altitude (the Gallery Golf Club is situated at around 900m above sea level).
My advice would be to look for players with strong tee-to-green games who have some desert cred. This is often a strong correlation between links golf and desert golf. Players will often need to hit lower trajectories in the wind and use the contours of the course to their advantage. LIV star Henrik Stenson is the perfect embodiment of this. The former Open champion won the WGC Match Play in 2007 and finished 3rd in defense of his title in 2008.
Phil Mickelson has been an easy target of late, with many of his outlandish statements being roundly condemned by those loyal to the US PGA Tour. He returns to action this week and will no doubt receive massive support. He has won six US PGA Tour titles in Arizona. In fact, he won his maiden US PGA Tour title in Tucson.
Cam Smith is the favorite this week, with Dustin Johnson and Joaquin Niemann lurking in the background. Oh, and could you guess who won the LIV Golf Mayakoba event? It was Charles Howell III who romped home to victory last time out. It all feels somewhat hollow, doesn’t it?
To Win Outright
Cameron Smith (9/1), Joaquin Niemann (11/1), Dustin Johnson (11/1), Abraham Ancer (14/1), Paul Casey (14/1)
Value Bets
Branden Grace- To Win (25/1), To Place (5/1)
Branden Grace looks like a solid pick given his desert credentials. He is a four-time top ten finisher at the Earth Course at Jumeirah. He is a two-time Qatar Masters champ and has twice finished 5th in Abu Dhabi. He seems to have taken to this new venture adroitly, winning the LIV Portland event last year. He was 3rd last time out at El Cameleon, shooting three sub-70 rounds in the process. He also has strong Arizona form, finishing 2nd and 9th at TPC Scottsdale. He looks like terrific value at 25/1.
Peter Uihlein- To Win (28/1), To Place (56/10)
American Peter Uihlein is fast becoming one of the premier players in LIV Golf (whatever that means). He has actually finished 2nd in three of his last four LIV starts. He went into the final round at Mayakoba with a two-stroke lead. But a charging Charles Howell III was able to put real pressure on him and he buckled. But the 4 ACES star is playing some of his most consistent golf in years and looks great value to place at 56/10.
The Man to Beat- Paul Casey- To Win (14/1), To Place (28/10)
Arizona-based Englishman Paul Casey looks a brilliant bet this week. A former alumnus of Arizona State, Casey actually owns a sprawling ranch just up the road from the Gallery Golf Club. A desert specialist, Casey actually reached the quarterfinals of the WGC-Match Play hosted here in 2007. He is in really strong LIV form, finishing in the top seven in each of his last three events. He will enjoy massive support this week and I can see him really harnessing that.
