PREVIEW: 2025 LIV Golf Series – LIV Golf Miami

LIV Golf returns from a three-week hiatus for the latest instalment of LIV Golf Miami. Joaquin Neimann is sitting pretty atop the individual leaderboard after wins in Adelaide and Singapore. He- and eleven other guys- will be using this event as a glorified practice session ahead of the Masters.

This will be the LIV Golf League’s first American pit stop on this year’s calendar. This will also mark the 4th successive season that Trump National Doral plays host to a LIV event.

This behemoth of a course hosted the Team Championship in 2022 and 2023. It moved to the regular season schedule last year, with big-hitting South African Dean Burmester beating Sergio Garica in a playoff.

There could be room for a surprise this week, as the Augusta-bound players will no doubt have Georgia on their minds (thank you).

Trump National Doral

The Trump name does have a tendency to stir up a wide range of different emotions. But there’s no denying the majesty of the fabled ‘Blue Monster’.

Doral is a sweeping par-72 juggernaut that measures about 7,700 yards! It features narrow fairways, and water is in play on virtually every hole.

The comical length and tight fairways require a nice combination of length and accuracy (think prime Dustin Johnson). You can’t just take the Happy Gilmore/ Bryson DeChambeau approach this week.

But length will certainly be a major benefit if you can keep it relatively safe (as evidenced by Burmester’s performance last year). Fiendishly placed bunkers will put a real premium on accurate approach play this week.

This course used to host the now-defunct WGC-Cadillac Championship between 2007 and 2016, with the likes of DJ, Reed and Mickelson scoring wins.

Contenders

Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann are the joint favourites this week. Rahm is yet to win this season but hasn’t finished outside the top six.

Niemann is a two-time winner this year and will be one of the dark horses for this year’s Masters. Speaking of dark-horse Masters contenders, Sergio Garcia – last year’s runner-up here – has been playing some of his best golf in ages.

Brooks Koepka finished runner-up in Singapore and looks in good shape ahead of the year’s first major. Elsewhere, the likes of Tyrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau will be desperate to iron out any kinks this week.

Past Winner

2024: Dean Burmester (-11) *playoff

To Win Outright:

Jon Rahm 13/2 | Joaquin Niemann 13/2 | Tyrell Hatton 11/1 | Brooks Koepka 12/1 | Sergio Garcia 14/1

Value Bet

Dustin Johnson – To Win 40/1

It looks like DJ has a point to prove. The two-time Major champion has had his struggles with form in recent seasons, with many labelling him a spent force.

But he shocked the entire golfing world at the recent LIV Singapore event, opening with 63 to lead after day one. He tapered off slightly, ultimately settling for a T5 finish.

But there are signs of a DJ renaissance. A past champion at Doral, Johnson is the type of driving machine that tends to prosper at the Blue Monster.

The Man to Beat – Sergio Garcia – To Win 14/1

Former Masters champ Sergio Garcia looks like he could be on the verge of a very impressive season. The Spaniard will be hugely motivated this week, having lost to Burmester in a gruelling playoff last year.

Garcia is currently 3rd in the individual standings, picking up his 2nd career LIV title at this year’s Hong Kong event (he could be a nice sleeper pick for Augusta National).

In any event, Garcia currently ranks 1st in LIV for fairways hit (which explains why he almost won here last year). There is a huge amount of trouble out there, and Garcia has the tools to avoid it.

He just missed out on a chance to qualify for this year’s Open Championship, finishing 4th at the International Series Macau.