It’s Labor Day weekend, and big time golf is back in Boston as the fourth leg of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series gets underway on Friday from The International in Bolton, Massachusetts.
One of the most unique aspects of the Greg Norman-led breakaway tour is its team play format, where players compete in a traditional stroke-play format, while simultaneously playing as part of a four-man team for all the glory… and cash prizes. (Over the first two rounds, the best two stroke play scores will count for each team. For the third and final round, the best three scores will count. The lowest overall team score after 54 holes is the team winner.)
In the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London at Centurion Club, Stinger GC, captained by Louis Oosthuizen, took first place with a three-day score of 20-under-par. 4 Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson and his all-American lineup took home the team trophy in both Portland and Bedminster.
The American team will seek a three-peat against a field that welcomes a handful of names making their LIV Golf debuts, headlined by 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith, who will captain the all Aussie Punch GC team, which includes another LIV newcomer in Marc Leishman.
With that, here are the power rankings for the team competition at LIV Golf Invitational Boston.
12. Cleeks GC
Martin Kaymer captains an all-European team which includes fellow U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and a pair of Englishmen in Laurie Canter and Richard Bland.
Team: Martin Kaymer (C), Graeme McDowell, Laurie Canter, Richard Bland
11. Niblicks GC
Bubba Watson is the new (non-playing while on rehab) captain for the all-American team, which adds fan fav Harold Varner III to a team that also includes Hudson Swafford, James Piot and Turk Pettit.
Team: Bubba Watson (C), Hudson Swafford, Harold Varner III, James Piot, Turk Pettit
10. Iron Heads GC
Captain Kevin Na and Sadom Kaewkanjana were constants for Iron Heads in the first two events but struggled in Bedminster. Phachara Khongwatmai comes in with a bit of momentum after finishing T11 at the Open Championship and T12 in Bedminster. Korea’s Sihwan Kim, who finished T11 in Portland, returns after sitting out the New Jersey stop.
Team: Kevin Na (C), Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai, Sihwan Kim
09. Torque GC
With Hideki Matsuyama sticking with the monopoly tour (for now), LIV assigned the four former Japanese members of Torque back to the Asian tour. Joaquin Niemann will take over the captaincy of the new-look team. The world No. 19 will be joined by Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, Spaniard Adrian Otaegui and Aussie Jediah Morgan, who was moved on from Punch GC.
Team: Joaquin Niemann (C), Scott Vincent, Adrian Otaegui, Jediah Morgan
08. Smash GC
Captained by four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, the team includes the big-hitting Jason Kokrak, who’s won three tournaments since October 2020. Koepka (T11) and younger brother Chase Koepka (T17) led Smash GC in Bedminster, both finishing inside the top 20. Peter Uihlein rounds out the team.
Team: Brooks Koepka (C), Jason Kokrak, Chase Koepka, Peter Uihlein
07. Hy Flyers GC
Captained by Phil Mickelson, the team gets upgraded with Cameron Tringale making his LIV Golf debut. Matthew Wolff, who’s finished solo eighth and T2 in his first two LIV starts, has returned to form and has anchored the foursome. 2021 Ryder Cupper Bernd Wiesberger remains on the team.
Team: Phil Mickelson (C), Matthew Wolff, Bernd Wiesberger, Cameron Tringale
06. Majesticks GC
Captained by former world No. 1 Lee Westwood of England, the high-profile Majesticks GC features Bedminster champion Henrik Stenson alongside two more Englishmen in Ian Poulter and Sam Horsfield. The foursome finished in the money at Bedminster with Stenson (1st) and Westwood (T6) and Poulter (T13) leading the way.
Team: Lee Westwood (C), Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Sam Horsfield
05. Crushers GC
Captained by Bryson DeChambeau, the Crushers GC added Anirban Lahiri to a team that already included Paul Casey and Charles Howell III. Casey finished T6 in his debut.
Team: Bryson DeChambeau (C), Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri
04. Fireballs GC
The all-Spanish speaking team captained by Sergio Garcia remains intact. They finished in the bronze medal spot in both Portland and Bedminster, with Carlos Ortiz (2nd and 4th) leading the way in both efforts. Abraham Ancer (T11 Portland) and Garcia (T6 Bedminster) have ham and egged it, while former amateur star Eugenio Chacarra produced T27 and T24 in his first two pro starts.
Team: Sergio Garcia (C), Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Eugenio Chacarra
03. Stinger GC
The all-South African team captained by Louis Oosthuizen was the most successful in the first two LIV Golf events, winning by 14 strokes in London and finishing second in Portland. Stinger GC players also won each of the first two individual trophies with Charl Schwartzel (London) and Branden Grace (Portland). Individually and as a team, though, they struggled in Bedminster. Now comes the team’s first lineup change, with Shaun Norris replacing Hennie du Plessis.
Team: Louis Oosthuizen (C), Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Shaun Norris
02. Punch GC
The all-Australian team got a huge upgrade with the addition of world No. 2 Cameron Smith as captain, and Marc Leishman as its B player. The duo replaced Jediah Morgan, who moves to Torque GC, and Travis Smyth (who was sent packing). Wade Ormsby and Matt Jones fill out the Team Down Under.
Team: Cameron Smith (C), Marc Leishman, Wade Ormsby, Matt Jones
01. 4 Aces GC
The all-American team of Dustin Johnson (C), Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez is clearly the team to beat. They won by seven strokes in Portland and eight in Bedminster. Their cumulative score was 48 under in those two victories with Johnson (T3, T2) and Reed (T3, 5th) each finishing in the top 5 individually in both events.
Team: Dustin Johnson (C), Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch, Pat Perez
