Team Power Rankings: LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster

The third leg of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series gets underway on Friday from famed Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

One of the most exciting twists about the upstart tour is team play, where players compete in traditional stroke-play format, while simultaneously competing as part of a four-man team for all the glory… and 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, alongside fellow South Africans Charl Schwartzel, Hennie du Plessis and Branden Grace, took first place with a three-day score of 20-under-par. 4 Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson and his all-American lineup of Talor Gooch, Pat Perez and Patrick Reed took home the team trophy in the LIV Golf Invitational Portland.

The American foursome will defend their first LIV Golf team title against a field that welcomes four notable names making their LIV Golf debuts: 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson, former world No. 3 Paul Casey, 11-time champion Jason Kokrak and veteran pro Charles Howell III.

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

12. Punch GC

Travis Smyth joins the all-Australian team captained by Wade Ormsby. Smyth joins compatriots Jediah Morgan and Matt Jones, who is the team’s top-ranked name.

Team: Wade Ormsby (C), Jediah Morgan, Travis Smyth, Matt Jones

11. Niblicks GC

Hudson Swafford is the new captain of this new all-American team. Swafford takes over for Graeme McDowell (who was reportedly traded to Cleeks GC for a pint of Guinness). Peter Uihlein joins teammate James Piot as past winners of the U.S. Amateur. Turk Pettit rounds out the foursome.

Team: Hudson Swafford (C), Peter Uihlein, James Piot, Turk Pettit

10. Torque GC

The all-Japanese team captained by Hideto Tanihara finished fourth in Portland, just one stroke off the podium. Jinichiro Kozuma was the team’s top performer, placing solo sixth in the individual standings and ranking as the second-best putter among all 48 players in the field. Yuki Inamori tied for 10th, while Tanihara and Ryosuke Kinoshita also finished inside the top 24.

Team: Hideto Tanihara (C), Jinichiro Kozuma, Yuki Inamori, Ryosuke Kinoshita

09. Iron Heads GC

Captain Kevin Na and Sadom Kaewkanjana have been the constants for Iron Heads in all three events, with Phachara Khongwatmai joining the team in Portland. Kaewkanjana comes in with momentum after finishing T-11 at the Open Championship – the best finish ever by a Thai player in that major. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent rounds out the team.

Team: Kevin Na (C), Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai, Scott Vincent

08. Cleeks GC

Captain Martin Kaymer has three new teammates, including former Niblicks GC captain Graeme McDowell, for his all-European team. Kaymer (Germany) and McDowell (Northern Ireland) have each won a U.S. Open. Englishman Laurie Canter joins the team after playing for Majesticks GC in the first two events. The final spot is held down by Spain’s David Puig, currently sitting 9th in the world amateur rankings.

Team: Martin Kaymer (C), Graeme McDowell, Laurie Canter, David Puig (Am)

07. Hy Flyers GC

Captained by Phil Mickelson, the team gets Justin Harding back. One of the most consistent performers in the first two LIV Golf events, Harding returns after playing for the Crushers in Portland. Harding tied for 10th in London while playing for Hy Flyers GC, then tied for 8th in Portland. Matthew Wolff and Bernd Wiesberger remain on the team. Wolff tied for 8th in his LIV Golf debut in Portland.

Team: Phil Mickelson (C), Matthew Wolff, Bernd Wiesberger, Justin Harding

06. Smash GC

New LIV Golf member Jason Kokrak joins the team captained by Brooks Koepka. The big-hitting Kokrak has won three tournaments since October 2020 and will add a powerful presence off the tee. Smash GC finished sixth in Koepka’s debut in Portland, with all four players finishing inside the top 30, including Chase Koepka and Richard Bland.

Team: Brooks Koepka (C), Jason Kokrak, Chase Koepka, Richard Bland

05. Majesticks GC

Major winner and Olympic medalist Henrik Stenson makes his LIV Golf debut in Bedminster by joining captain Lee Westwood’s team. Stenson, Westwood and teammate Ian Poulter have combined to make nearly 1,900 worldwide starts in their careers. Majesticks took third place in London and eighth in Portland. Englishman Sam Horsfield is the final member of the high-profile team.

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

04. Crushers GC

Paul Casey and Charles Howell III make their LIV Golf debuts in Bedminster by joining captain Bryson DeChambeau’s team, giving the Crushers a huge upgrade. Casey and Howell add plenty of experience, combining for 1,100-plus worldwide starts in their professional careers. DeChambeau and Shaun Norris are the two carryovers from Portland, where DeChambeau made his LIV Golf debut, finishing solo 10th.

Team: Bryson DeChambeau (C), Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, Shaun Norris

03. Fireballs GC

The all-Spanish speaking team captained by Sergio Garcia remains intact for Bedminster. Thanks to a birdie by Carlos Ortiz on the final hole, Fireballs GC broke a tie with Torque GC to claim the $500,000 team prize for third place in Portland. Ortiz and Abraham Ancer played for Mexico in the Tokyo Olympics, while Garcia played for Spain at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Former amateur star Eugenio Chacarra of Spain made his pro debut in Portland, finishing T-27. Ancer (T-11) and Garcia (T-68) made the cut at the Open Championship.

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

02. Stinger GC

The all-South African team captained by Louis Oosthuizen has been 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 have won each of the first two individual trophies with Charl Schwartzel (London) and Branden Grace (Portland). Each of the four members has finished inside the top 5 in at least one of the first two events, including Hennie Du Plessis, who scored the silver medal in London.

Team: Louis Oosthuizen (C), Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Hennie Du Plessis

01. 4 Aces GC

The all-American team captained by Dustin Johnson won by seven strokes in Portland after a lineup revision. Newcomers Patrick Reed and Pat Perez were added to the team for Portland while Talor Gooch moved over from Torque GC. Reed and Johnson tied for third individually, with Reed claiming the podium spot via tiebreaker. Johnson (T6), Gooch (T34) and Reed (T47) made the cut at the Open Championship.

Team: Dustin Johnson (C), Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch, Pat Perez