LIV Golf League Hong Kong Predictions, Best Bets, Odds
LIV Golf Hong Kong Intro
LIV breaks new ground this week.
It has already visited Asia - to Bangkok and Singapore - but this week’s venture to Hong Kong is a first visit to the People’s Republic of China.
It’s a novel destination for LIV, but not for the sport.
Indeed, the Hong Kong Open has a long history and has always been played at Hong Kong Golf Club, a tree-lined parkland layout that is a short but exacting test.
It’s an important week for those LIV golfers who will be playing at Augusta National in the Masters because they have only one other start (in Miami) before the first major championship of the year.
Chief among that group is Jon Rahm who will defend his Green Jacket in Georgia in April.
Who will take the honors this week? Let’s find out.
Hong Kong GC Winners
Hong Kong GC Course Notes
The course is a par 70 that plays to 6,710 yards
It has been the regular host of the Hong Kong Open since 1959
It’s a notably short and traditional design
It is tight and tree-lined from tee to green
The putting surfaces are smaller than average
It’s known for suiting straight hitters of the ball
Favorites to Win the LIV Golf Hong Kong
Jon Rahm (+550)
The Spaniard became bad-tempered with the PGA Tour last season when he was forced into a schedule not of his own choosing between the majors. Might he be on the brink of another kind of frustration? Because in his three starts on LIV, he has failed every time to improve on his pre-final round position and he is still yet to win anywhere since last year’s Masters.
Joaquin Niemann (+700)
In sharp contrast to Rahm, the Chilean is absolutely flying at the moment. He closed 2023 with victory in the Australian Open and last week’s victory in Jeddah was his second on LIV this calendar year. It was also the seventh top-10 finish in his last eight starts. He might be the most in-form golfer in the world and he is definitely LIV’s hottest performer.
Tyrrell Hatton (+1200)
The Englishman is a very consistent and experienced visitor to China with 10 top 30 finishes from 13 starts but he has only one top six - and that was on his first visit on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2013. He’s also yet to quite catch fire on LIV. He’s finished top 15 in all three appearances but he has a best of eighth and is yet to genuinely contend for the win.
DJ Spins a Tune in China
Dustin Johnson enjoyed traveling to China when it hosted the World Golf Championship HSBC Champions event.
He was a winner in 2013, the 54-hole leader when second in 2017, and fifth in 2015.
True, he missed the cut in his only start at Hong Kong GC but, for a big hitter, he likes a short test.
He’s a seven-time top-five finisher at Pebble Beach, including two wins.
He won at River Highlands in 2020.
And, as a winner at Las Vegas just two starts ago, he can contend again this week.
Garcia a Neat Fit
Sergio Garcia has played twice in Hong Kong, finishing 19th in 2017 and sixth a year later.
He closed last week with a 65 for 15th and another week contending for the title, such as when he lost a playoff at the start of the year in Mexico and is well within him on a short test that should suit.
Golfers who like Valderrama tend to thrive at Hong Kong GC and Garcia has seven top-three finishes there including three wins.
He’s also won at the short, tree-lined Westchester in New York and on multiple tight layouts in Spain.
Back him each way (five places) at +1800 with bet365.
Puig Can Ride the Wave
Spanish youngster David Puig joined LIV as soon as he turned pro and his first top 10 anywhere was on the tree-lined Royal Dar es Salam in the Asian Tour’s International Series.
And his two top 10s on LIV itself came at the short and tight Valderrama and Old White at Greenbrier.
He will also relish a return to Asia because his last two visits - at the end of last year and the start of 2024 back in the International Series - both reaped wins.
Take him at the top price of +225 for a top 10 with bet365.
Tournament: LIV Golf Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong GC, Fanling Hong Kong
Date: Friday, March 8 - Sunday, March 10
How to watch: Friday-Saturday on The CW App. Sunday on The CW Network. And all three days on LIV Golf Plus and YouTube
