The 2025 LIV season kicks off in Saudi Arabia with Riyadh hosting a LIV event for the first time after hosting many Saudi Opens.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Scrambling
- GIR
- Driving Accuracy
- Birdies
- Bogey Avoidance
Scrambling is absolutely the key to success here.
The clearest path to victory is finding fairways, hitting greens and getting up-and-down when missing the smallish green complexes.
Key Correlation Courses
- Royal Greens
- Wentworth
- Abu Dhabi
BEST BET
TYRELL HATTON
There is no better desert golfer in the world than Tyrell Hatton and he looks primed to add another victory to his already extensive resume.
A 10-time winner on the PGA/DP World Tour/LIV, Hatton has won three of those in the last eight months with a win in LIV Nashville, a victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links and a Dubai Desert Victory success in his last start.
His recent run in the desert resulted in four straight top six wins.
Ranks second in Birdies, third in Bogey Avoidance, sixth in Scrambling and ninth in GIR on LIV.
BEST VALUE
SERGIO GARCIA
Arguably no player in the tournament profiles better than veteran Sergio Garcia.
Leads LIV in Scrambling while he ranks second in Bogey Avoidance, third in GIR and in Driving Accuracy.
Won LIV Andalucia last year and finished Top 8 in his last two LIV events and finished T-3 in Jeddah in 2023.
Like the chances of him exceeding expectations here.
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN
Veteran who does not win a lot but typically performs well in the desert.
Played in the desert four times across the last 12 months for two seconds, a third and a T-17.
Ranks second in Scrambling, third in Bogey Avoidance, fourth in Driving Accuracy and ninth in Birdies.
He is expected to perform very well in Riyadh.
BEST ROUGHIES
PAUL CASEY
Hugely underrated Englishman who deserves to come well into consideration this week with a great profile.
Ranks third in GIR, fifth in Driving Accuracy, sixth in Bogey Avoidance, seventh in Scrambling and 10th in Birdies.
Finished Top 10 in five of his last 12 LIV events and has won three times in the desert including his last victory, the 2021 Dubai Desert Classic.
RICHARD BLAND
Old-timer who tends to overthrow his coverage.
Ranks fifth in GIR, eighth in Driving Accuracy and ninth in Bogey Avoidance.
Won two senior majors last year and performed well in Jeddah last year with a T-11.
TOP AUSTRALIAN
MARC LEISHMAN
Happy to put a line through Cam Smith with his inaccuracy from the tee a major concern.
Leishman found some form in Australia and does rank third in Bogey Avoidance and fifth in Scrambling.
TOP CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN
SERGIO GARCIA
Garcia is in for a huge tournament and this is the best market to bet him in.
Jon Rahm is short but Sergio is a far better play.