Despite loads of criticism and backlash, including from other golf tours, the LIV Golf Invitational Series continues with its first tournament in the U.S. The field of 48 gathers this week at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club just outside Portland with a familiar name at the top of the odds board. As he was last month in London, Dustin Johnson opened as the betting favorite in a stronger field than we last saw. Four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka is a new addition along with Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer and Matthew Wolff. South African players dominated at the inaugural event with Charl Schwartzel taking home the $4 million individual prize. He was followed on the leaderboard by Hennie Du Plessis and Branden Grace. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Odds to Win LIV Golf Invitational Portland
Dustin Johnson +700
Brooks Koepka +1000
Louis Oosthuizen +1000
Abraham Ancer +1200
Patrick Reed +1400
Bryson DeChambeau +1600
Talor Gooch +1600
Sergio Garcia +1800
Kevin Na +2000
Sam Horsfield +2000
Bernd Wiesberger +2500
Charl Schwartzel +2500
Pat Perez +2800
Branden Grace +3000
Ian Poulter +3000
Justin Harding +3000
Adrian Otaegui +3300
Hennie Du Plessis +3300
Laurie Canter +3300
Matt Jones +3500
Lee Westwood +4000
Matthew Wolff +4000
Carlos Ortiz +4500
Peter Uihlein +4500
Graeme McDowell +5000
Scott Vincent +5000
Richard Bland +5500
Martin Kaymer +6000
Phil Mickelson +6000
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra +6600
Odds Analysis
Abraham Ancer +1200
Ancer has a history at Pumpkin Ridge finishing as co-runner up in the 2017 WinCo Foods Portland Open on the KFT. He also had his share of success on the PGA Tour with three top-10s in 17 starts before making the move. His last entry was earlier this month when he finished T32 at the Memorial, though he was in a much better position before a closing 77 ruined any title hopes. Maybe that played into his decision with only 54 holes played on the LIV circuit. Or it could be the potential for a big payday like Schwartzel experienced last week.
Bryson DeChambeau +1600
Pumpkin Ridge is a nice set up for DeChambeau’s booming drives. There is little to worry about with open fairways and he could easily reach the green on half the par-4s leaving him a bunch of scoring chances. Taking advantage of those opportunities is another story, but having them at least gives him a chance. DeChambeau already hit the jackpot with a reported $100 million signing bonus, but being the competitor he is he’d like to improve on an awful season so far.
Dustin Johnson +700
Getting big bucks up front makes me question how motivated some of the big name players are going to be. DJ also got a hefty signing bonus and followed that with a lackluster effort in London finishing eighth. However, like DeChambeau, the competitive nature of Johnson made him one of the best in the sport. And winning a tournament is just as satisfying as the paycheck.
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra +6600
The No. 2 ranked amateur in the world, Lopez-Chacarra makes his pro debut this week. There’s no doubt the talent is there, the only question is how he handles the pressure of his first pro start. He was a dominant fixture as a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State where he won three times with six other top-6 finishes in 14 starts this past season. He was a finalist for the Ben Hogan Award as the top collegiate golfer. This is a different setting than what he’s used to, but he’s a worth a look at his price in a limited field.
Matthew Wolff +4000
Wolff got a taste of just how humbling professional golf can be. A winner in his fourth professional start it’s been a struggle since. Wolff took time away from the game to deal with personal issues and while the results haven’t necessarily followed, he’s in a better place mentally, which over time will translate on the golf course. And he showed early that he’s a threat rising to No. 12 in the world rankings in 2020 with seven top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at the U.S. Open. He’s almost too good to pass up at this price.
Course: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – 7,017 yards, Par 71
Opened in 1992, Pumpkin Ridge offers two championship courses with Witch Hollow stretching to just over 7,000 yards at par-72. The property has hosted significant events in the past, including the Nike Tour Championship, men’s U.S. Amateur, and the U.S. Women’s Open. It also hosted stops on the LPGA and Korn Ferry Tours. Etched into the local landscape, Pumpkin Ridge offers breathtaking views while being touted among the best courses in the Pacific Northwest. Wide Fairways allow for big hitters to attack the eight par-4s while precision is required on the five par-3s that all play less than 215 yards. The back nine plays nearly 300 yards shorter on the score card.
TV Coverage: None
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu.
