Inside the Odds: Looking at the LIV Golf DC field

The LIV Golf League heads to Washington D.C. this week for LIV Golf DC at Trump National Golf Club. Here is some expert statistical analysis from Champion Data based on a closer look at the individual and team odds for the seventh event of the 2023 season.

Brooks Koepka (+700)

2023: Finishes: 31-29-1-19-3-5

A pretty compelling case can be made that Brooks Koepka is the best golfer on the globe right now, adding to his LIV Orlando win with a PGA Championship this past weekend. He also led through three rounds at Masters. Genuine star but expect this week has been more about celebration than preparation.

Verdict: Backing up is hard to do

Cameron Smith (+800)

2023 Finishes: 6-26-29-4-7-2

One fancies Smith is starting to return to his best. He has three straight top-seven finishes in the LIV Golf League and tied a low-round record with a sublime 61 in Tulsa. He backed that up in the PGA Championship with a final round low-score of 65 to finish inside the Top 10. He leads LIV in putting average and birdie or better while he ranks third in par 4 scoring. Should be at the top of the leaderboard.

Verdict: Tick on form, tick on setup

Dustin Johnson (+1200)

2023 Finishes: 37-13-7-10-25-1

Johnson's early-season slump is a thing of the past as a return to American soil saw the icon add another win to his record at LIV Golf Tulsa. He also started well at Oak Hill, though some erratic form off the tee saw him slip over the weekend. The big plus for Johnson here is his form on Tom Fazio designed courses, with a win in 2016 and Top 10s at Caves Valley, Congaree and Conway Farms.

Verdict: Hard to see him not contending

Talor Gooch (+1400)

2023 Finishes: 14-14-18-1-1-37

Became the first player to win back-to-back LIV tournaments earlier this season, but worth noting that those wins came in Australia and Singapore and he has not posted a Top 10 in four US starts (including two majors) this season. Ranks top five in par 4 scoring, scrambling and birdie or better, so he fits the profile.

Verdict: Can win but not a lot of value at the odds

Joaquin Niemann (+1700)

2023 Finishes: 11-37-33-30-10-8

Chilean who is the only player in the top 10 in betting that does not rank top 10 in putting average, birdie or better, scrambling or GIR. Back-to-back top 10s suggest a return to form and he finished sixth at a similar course, Shadow Creek, in 2020.

Verdict: Not a great betting proposition this week given the odds

Patrick Reed (+1800)

2023 Finishes: 38-18-4-3-14-11

With putting expected to be a critical factor this week, Reed is very much in the mix. Reed ranks seventh in putting average and fifth in birdie or better, while he is a top-five scrambler in the LIV Golf League this year. Finished inside the top 18 in his last five LIV events and 4th and 18th in his two majors this year. Look set to be a major player this week.

Verdict: Must be included in betting cards

Mito Pereira (+1800)

2023 Finishes: 16-6-6-27-5-31

Pereira has been in elite form from tee to green this year. He leads LIV in GIR and ranks second in scrambling. It has resulted in three top six finishes in his last five LIV starts. The worry though, is his form on the green. He ranks bottom 10 in putting average and with putting the top statistical guide this week, he is more lay than play in DC.

Verdict: Putting the worry again

Charles Howell III (+1800)

2023 Finishes: 1-5-26-21-8-11

No player brings a better profile to Trump National than the consistent Charles Howell III. This season he leads LIV in scrambling and par four scoring while he ranks second in GIR, fifth in birdie or better and ninth in putting average. Won in Mayakoba and can win again.

Verdict: A very strong bet

Bryson DeChambeau (+2000)

2023 Finishes: 26-9-45-14-2-5

Big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau has certainly found some form of late with three straight top five finishes including at Oak Hill with a fine performance in the PGA Championship. While the length of Trump National will play into his game, bottom 12 rankings in putting average and scrambling suggest this is not a track to play him on.

Verdict: Form is impressive but not the best fit

Peter Uihlein (+2300)

2023 Finishes: 2-10-8-7-11-24

A machine of consistency with five top 11 finishes in six starts this season. He is tied for first in birdie or better, while he ranks second in putting average. Distance is a plus but short game form, which is statistically average, is a concern.