2023 LIV Golf Invitational Mayakoba: Team Power Rankings

0
4 Aces GC LIV Golf Bedminster Dustin Johnson
Team Captain Dustin Johnson of 4 Aces GC walks through the locker room during day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National GC on July 30, 2022 in Bedminster, NJ. (Photo by Charles Laberge for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The LIV Golf League gets its 2023 season underway this week with the Invitational at Mayakoba. Contested on the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon Golf Course, LIV Golf’s sophomore season will once again feature 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 season, Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces absolutely dominated the competition en route to winning the inaugural Team Championship. The 2023 lineup, though, will be without the league’s best C player, Talor Gooch, who was sent to Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC. Replacing the Oklahoma native will be Peter Uihlein, who overperformed in 2022 but is not quite the talent of Gooch.

With that, here are the power rankings for the team competition at LIV Golf Invitational Mayakoba.


12. Iron Heads GC

Iron Heads GC LIV Golf Kevin Na
Team Captain Kevin Na of Iron Heads GC walks from the 17th tee during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GClub on July 02, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jamie Squire/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Captain Kevin Na and Sihwan Kim return from last year’s lineup. They will be joined by one-time PGA Tour winner Danny Lee, who will make his LIV Golf debut, and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.

Team: Kevin Na (C), Sihwan Kim, Danny Lee, Scott Vincent


11. Cleeks GC

The LIV Golf Invitational London
The LIV Golf Invitational team and individual trophies are seen on the 1st hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational-London at The Centurion Club on June 09, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Martin Kaymer captains an all-European team which includes fellow U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Englishman Richard Bland and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, a member of the 2021 European Ryder Cup team.

Team: Martin Kaymer (C), Bernd Wiesberger, Graeme McDowell, Richard Bland


10. Hy Flyers GC

2022 LIV Golf-Boston Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson, captain of the HY Flyers GC, tosses his golf ball to the gallery on 18 during the final round on Day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Boston on Sept 4, 2022, at The International in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Captained by Phil Mickelson, the Flyers retained Cameron Tringale but lost two studs in Matthew Wolff and Bernd Wiesberger. They will be replaced by former amateur star James Piot and PGA Tour veteran Brendan Steele, who will make his LIV Golf debut.

Team: Phil Mickelson (C), James Piot, Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale


09. Torque GC

Joaquin Niemann 2022 LIV Golf-Boston
Joaquin Niemann, captain of the Torque GC, waves to the crowd after his 2nd place finish during the final round of LIV Golf Invitational Boston on Sept 4, 2022, at The International in Bolton, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Captain Joaquin Niemann heads an all-Latin team, adding two of his closest friends in fellow Chilean Mito Pereira, who stars in Netflix’s Full Swing documentary, and Colombian Sebastian Munoz. Spanish youngster David Puig rounds out the squad. Munoz and Pereira, who were members of the 2022 Presidents Cup International Team, will make their LIV Golf debuts and should provide a spark as the league’s youngest squad.

Team: Joaquin Niemann (C), Mito Pereira, Sebastian Munoz, David Puig


08. Smash GC

2022 LIV Golf-Bedminster Brooks Koepka
Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC shakes hands with Greg Norman, CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, on stage during the welcome party for the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Gotham Hall on July 27, 2022 in New York, NY. (Photo by Mike Stobe for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Captained by four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, the team includes the big-hitting Jason Kokrak and former HyFlyer Matthew Wolff. Both Kokrak and Wolff finished in the top five in driving distance in 2022. Chase Koepka, Brooks’ younger brother, rounds out the all-American team.

Team: Brooks Koepka (C), Jason Kokrak, Matthew Wolff, Chase Koepka


06. Majesticks GC

2022 LIV Golf-Boston Team Majesticks GC
Team Captain Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter of Majesticks GC are seen in the locker room during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National on July 31, 2022 in Bedminster, NJ. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton for LIV via Getty Images)

The high-profile Majesticks GC are co-captained by three of Europe’s most familiar Ryder Cup veterans: Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Englishmen Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. A third Brit, Sam Horsfield, rounds out the foursome.

Team: Lee Westwood (C), Henrik Stenson (C), Ian Poulter (C), Sam Horsfield


05. Crushers GC

2022 LIV Golf Bryson Dechambeau
Team Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC plays a shot on the driving range during day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GC on July 2, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Captained by Bryson DeChambeau, the Crushers GC were upgraded big time late last season with the additions of Indian star Anirban Lahiri, Paul Casey, a former world No. 3, and PGA Tour veteran Charles Howell III.

Team: Bryson DeChambeau (C), Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri


04. Fireballs GC

2022 LIV Golf-Portland Caddie Bib Team Names
The caddie bib of Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia is shown during day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational-Portland at Pumpkin Ridge GC on July 1, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The all-Spanish speaking team, captained by 2017 Masters champion and Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia, remains intact. Joining Garcia on Team Fireballs is Spanish compatriot Eugenio Chacarra, who claimed his first pro title last season at the Bangkok stop. Mexican stars Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz round out the talented team.

Team: Sergio Garcia (C), Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Eugenio Chacarra


03. Stinger GC

Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis
Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis of Stinger GC smile with the trophy after winning the team portion of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club on June 11, 2022 in St Albans, England. (Photo by John Phillips / LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The all-South African team captained by Louis Oosthuizen was one of the most successful last season, 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). Dean Burmester, a nine-time pro tour winner, joins the team in 2023.

Team: Louis Oosthuizen (C), Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Dean Burmester


3. RangeGoats GC

Harold Varner III and Bubba Watson
Harold Varner III and Bubba Watson on the 13th tee during the first round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 21, 2022 in Avondale, LA. (Photo by Chris Graythen via Getty Images)

Bubba Watson captains a revamped Niblicks team, including a new name: RangeGoats GC. The two-time Masters champ retains fan fav Harold Varner III while bringing in two top-tier names in Talor Gooch and Thomas Pieters.

Team: Bubba Watson (C), Harold Varner III, Talor Gooch, Thomas Pieters


02. Ripper GC

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and Cameron Smith of the Punch GC pose for a photo after Smith won the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Montana Pritchard for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The all-Australian team, with a new name (formerly Punch GC) is captained by Cameron Smith, the reigning Open Champion, and Marc Leishman as its B player. The duo will be joined by PGA Tour winner Matt Jones and young up-and-comer Jed Morgan, a former Aussie amateur star.

Team: Cameron Smith (C), Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Jed Morgan


01. 4 Aces GC

4 Aces GC Win 2022 LIV Golf Boston
Team Captain Dustin Johnson of 4 Aces GC and teammate Patrick Reed celebrate after winning the team championship during Day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston at The Oaks course at The International on Sep 04, 2022 in Bolton, Mass. (Photo by Patrick Smith for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The all-American team of Dustin Johnson (C), Patrick Reed, Peter Uihlein and Pat Perez is clearly the team to beat. Winning last year’s Team Championship and four regular-season events, 4Aces dominated the team competition in LIV Golf’s inaugural Invitational Series. Uihlein is the newcomer to the squad (replacing Talor Gooch who jumped to RangeGoats). 4 Aces now boats three of the top four players from last season’s Individual Champion race in Johnson (1), Uihlein (3), and Reed (4).

Team: Dustin Johnson (C), Patrick Reed, Peter Uihlein, Pat Perez

Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here