The LIV Golf League heads from Houston to Nashville for LIV Golf Nashville. Bryson DeChambeau leads the markets this week, with the likes of Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann also near the top of the betting boards.
2024 LIV Golf League
LIV Golf Nashville
The Grove
21 – 23 June
Bryson DeChambeau won his second US Open title in dramatic fashion last week, taking advantage of an epic McIlroy implosion to win by one shot at Pinehurst No.2. DeChambeau couldn’t find a fairway to save his life on Sunday, instead relying on a truly magnificent scrambling display.
This result could be a game-changer for LIV Golf. Sure, Koepka won at Oak Hill last year to become the first active LIV member to claim a Major Championship. But Koepka is a notably taciturn figure who doesn’t exactly get the heartbeat racing.
DeChambeau- love him or loathe him- is pure box office, mugging for the camera and inviting the fans into the action. He has the ability to move the needle and redirect golfing fandom.
It will be interesting to see how LIV fares as it goes up against the Travelers this week. In any event, DeChambeau has helped energise the LIV Tour as it heads to yet another brand-new stop: Nashville.
The Grove
This will be the inaugural staging of the LIV Nashville event, with Tennessee becoming the 12th state to host a LIV event. Only five tournaments remain in the regular season as teams jostle for position ahead of the season-ending Team Championship in Dallas.
This will actually mark the first time in over 80 years that a big-time golfing event has come to Tennessee. This week’s action will take place at the Grove, a picturesque course designed by the Darth Vader of golf himself: Greg Norman.
The Grove isn’t a complete mystery. It actually hosted the Simmons Bank Open on the Korn Ferry Tour for each of the last three seasons. It was supposedly one of the tougher courses on the Korn Ferry Tour, with no winner going lower than 17-under-par.
Moreover, this week’s event will be played as a par-71 (it is usually played as a par-72). This isn’t a behemoth like some of the other LIV events hosted in America, measuring just a smidge under 7,300 yards.
The fairways are quite generous but there is plenty of water to contend with. Looking through the Korn Ferry data, it would seem that finding fairways and hitting greens in regulation will be key to success this week.
The greens appear quite slick and players will need their approach game to be sharp to give themselves birdie opportunities. The LIV players who did compete at Pinehurst No.2 will probably feel like they are playing a resort course this week!
The Contenders
Bryson DeChambeau will essentially be in celebration mode as he looks to win his first LIV Golf event of the season. Jon Rahm missed out at Pinehurst due to a foot issue and is scheduled to make his return to action in Nashville.
Carlos Ortiz will look to build on the momentum of that breakthrough win in Houston. Sergio Garcia and Tyrell Hatton both flirted with contention last week and should come into this with some confidence under their belts.
Koepka threatened early at Pinehurst but lacked his usual cutting edge. This has the potential to be a huge week for LIV and you can expect some real rowdiness out there.
Past Winners
Inaugural edition
To Win Outright:
Bryson DeChambeau 7/1 | Jon Rahm 10/1 | Joaquin Niemann 11/1 | Brooks Koepka 11/1 | Tyrell Hatton 12/1
Value Bet
Carlos Ortiz – To Win 20/1 | To Place 44/10
Carlos Ortiz has been in explosive form of late. It all started with an incredible final round 64 at the LIV Singapore event. He carried that play over into Houston, picking up his maiden LIV Golf victory after surviving a nervy four-man playoff.
I think that his Houston stats line up beautifully for this week’s test. He ranked 1st in the field in GIR and 8th in Driving Accuracy. He ranks 4th in GIR this season and I think that will prove a huge bellwether of success this week.
The Man to Beat – Sergio Garcia – To Win 16/1 | To Place 7/2
This will certainly be a popular pick in Nashville. Sergio Garcia is a player who excels at hitting fairways and finding greens in regulation (he is the only player in the field who ranks in the top 5 for both categories).
That should make him an ideal fit for the Grove. He is also a player in form, finishing in the top five in two of his last four LIV starts before a highly creditable T12 at Pinehurst No.2.
He seems to be at peace, not overly remonstrating with himself when he misses a short putt. That should bode well for him in the twilight of his brilliant career.
