2024 LIV Golf Hong Kong Preview, Picks & Analysis

You can criticise LIV Golf for many things - and I have - but at least they are being true to their word when they talk about trying to spread the appeal of the game. This week they are in Hong Kong. 

And this is how they are promoting the event on their website:

Friday    

Rahm, Koepka, Johnson and Smith all start on the shotgun, with no more staggered entrances to slow things down. Whether you’re right by the 1st tee or up over the 18th green, you’ll see action from start to finish.  

Saturday  

We’ve already reached the penultimate round, and this is the pressure really starts to mount. It’s getting tight at the top of both the leaderboards, and every player can put their team in a winning position. And when the golf stops for the day, the action continues in the Fan Village with DJs, street food and festival vibes everywhere. No cuts at LIV Golf, all players tee off all 3 days. 

Sunday  

You’ll witness both titles settled today, before the winners spray their bubbly on the podium. Then, to wrap your dream golfing weekend, our DJs will take to the decks for a euphoric closing set. You may even catch some of the players joining in the celebrations. 

So there you have it. You will notice that LIV put huge emphasis on the team element of their tournaments and there are huge rewards for the teams that combine to win each tournament. I don’t know about you, but I really struggle to get my head around why this is such an important part of the entire process.

For me - and I suspect most golfers - team golf is the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup. It is golfers going head to head in a thrilling matchplay environment. But what do I know?

Hong Kong may seem like an odd choice but golf there dates back more than 100 years and the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club can trace its roots way back to 1889, which makes it one of the oldest courses on the planet. And although Hong Kong is famous for its lack of green space, it actually boasts eight other courses. And the local fans are passionate about the sport so this week could be a big one for LIV as it continues to try to spread its global reach.

All the usual suspects will be in action, including Jon Rahm, former Open champion Cameron Smith, Adrian Meronk, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann and Talor Gooch. Niemann recently received a huge personal boost when he was informed that he has been invited to play at The Masters next month. For all my issues with LIV and everything it stands for, I welcome this decision.

Niemann, the Chilean former world No 1 amateur, had expressed concern that he might miss the majors after competing in LIV Golf events and seeing his world ranking drop outside the top 50 that automatically qualify.

The decision to allow him to play at Augusta National follows Niemann’s victory in the Australian Open in December - which also guaranteed his place in the Open at Royal Troon this summer - and his willingness to play tournaments outside LIV Golf in an effort to gain ranking points. 

He won LIV’s season opener, beating Garcia in a playoff, and is quite clearly a man in form. He then followed that up by the winning the individual title in Jeddah. Sadly, there was no such invitation for Gooch, who won three individual LIV titles in 2023 and has continued to show some fine form this year. 

Bryson DeChambeau will be licking his lips at the prospect of tackling this golf course. It is short, and that means he actually doesn’t need to keep reaching for the driver. Expect to see some very low scores.

The Course:

Hong Kong Golf Club is a par 70 measuring just 6,547 yards and that means we are going to see some very low scores. The fairways are tree-lined but the man who can keep the ball in play may well fancy breaking 60.

Form Guide:

This course is made for Bryson DeChambeau. If he can keep the ball in play he could bring it to his knees. Joaquin Niemann is one of LIV’s straightest hitters and I really fancy his chances. He is in fine form and has a Masters appearance to look forward to.

To Win:

Joaquin Niemann. A class act

Each Way:

Jon Rahm. Tuning up for Masters defence

Each Way:

Bryson DeChambeau. Could destroy this golf course

Five to Follow:

Joaquin Niemann. Wonderful temperament

Jon Rahm. Will surely contend again

Bryson DeChambeau. Impossible to ignore

Brooks Koepka. Sensational ball striker

Sergio Garcia. Looking something like his best