LIV Golf Chicago Predictions, Best Bets, Odds

LIV Chicago Intro

A return to Rich Harvest Farms in the windy city of Chicago for LIV.

The course was no stranger to team golf when it was used for the first time on this circuit last year because it also welcomed the Solheim Cup in 2009.

The event 12 months ago saw the cream rise to the top.

Dustin Johnson thrashed a brilliant 63 in the first round to grab a three-shot lead.

He was then caught and passed by the Australian Cameron Smith who never let his advantage slip.

LIV Chicago Result in 2022

Rich Harvest Farms Course Notes

• The course is a par 71 that plays to a yardage of 7,401
• It is a hilly course with lagoons and a creek
• It is known by some as “the Augusta of the Midwest”
• It was designed by the owner Jerry Rich

Leading Contenders to Win the LIV Chicago

Cameron Smith (+800)

The Australian was superb 12 months ago, opening with a 66 before adding a second-round 68 that opened up a two-shot lead over the field. He refused to relent, carding a final round 69 that clinched the title, his first on LIV and one of five in the year. He’s won twice this summer, first at LIV London in early July and then again last time out in LIV Bedminster. On both occasions, he grabbed a first-round lead and never let the field have another sniff all week.

Bryson DeChambeau (+1100)

Many will count DeChmabeau as unlucky not to have been granted a Ryder Cup wildcard and it might be that he was overlooked more because of his personality than his form. Why so? Well, he was second at LIV Valderrama in late June and then landed his first LIV victory with closing rounds of 61-58 at LIV Greenbrier. He played this event last year and finished a solid eighth.

Brooks Koepka (+1600)

It’s a big week for Koepka who earned his Ryder Cup spot via second place in the Masters and victory in the PGA Championship. He’s also been a LIV winner this year, the week before his strong effort at Augusta National. It might be, however, that he’s lost a little form. He was 64th in the Open and then finished 38th at both LIV Greenbrier and LIV Bedminster.

Smith Can Go Back-to-Back

Ahead of his defense of the Open at Royal Liverpool the Aussie insisted that he was playing not only as good as last year but better.

At first glance that seemed a little hard to believe, even though he had just won LIV London, because he finished 33rd on the linksland and was then 32nd at LIV Greenbrier.

But he was brilliant when winning LIV Bedminster, leading by one shot after 18 holes, by four after 36, and by seven by the end of the tournament.

He’s playing well and he’s hungry: He can win again.

Back him each way at +800 with bet365 paying five places.

Spanish Armada

Spain’s Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra is just about the only youngster to have impressed after skipping the traditional routes and heading to LIV to begin his pro career.

He won LIV Bangkok last October and he also won the Asian Tour’s International Series St Andrews Bay Championship last time out (three weeks ago).

He was 21st in this event last year but he has more course experience than that because he played it in the 2021 Palmer Cup (a college event between American and International teams) and won all four of his matches.

He makes an excellent each option this week and at a big price.

Back him with Caesars Sportsbook offering +6600 each way (five places).

Proud Poulter Can Make a Statement

Next week’s Ryder Cup will be a tough watch (or ignore) for those of Europe’s golden generation who have been blackballed in the event after joining LIV.

It would not be a surprise if one or more of them played well this week, almost as if to make a statement.

Sergio Garcia might be the man but would need to turn his form around.

But what of Ian Poulter?

Incredibly he is yet to land a LIV top 10 but go against the grain on this one.

Because he has had seven top 20s he’s not been far off but, more importantly, he was second last time out in that Asian Tour event in St Andrews.

A return to form and Ryder Cup motivation might bring out the best in him.

The bet365 offer of +350 for a top 10 is worth taking.