The wait is over! Over a year of rumors passed and the first LIV golf event is this week at the Centurion Club in London. Read on for our LIV Golf Invitational Series London analysis and betting picks.
LIV Golf Invitational Series London
June 9 – June 11, 2022, at Centurion Club
Par 72, 7,195 yards
Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson Lead the Cast of the LIV Golf Invitational in London
After a year of speculation and controversy, it’s finally happening as the LIV Golf League begins in England. Probably the worst kept secret in sport this week was six-time major champion Phil Mickelson joining two-time major winner Dustin Johnson in this week’s LIV Golf Invitational in London as the star attractions.
Dustin Johnson unsurprisingly is the solid favorite this week at +500 betting odds while Mickelson is in the +3300 range. I can’t say Mickelson appeals to the betting markets having been out of action for several months and there have been reports that he’s been struggling in practice.
Quality Abounds With 33% of the Field Being World Ranked in the Top 100
The supporting cast isn’t half bad either with 33% of the forty-eight-player field being ranked in the top 10 of the World Rankings. Household names to golf fans such as Louis Oosthuizen, Kevin Na, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are joined by young guns Talor Gooch and Sam Horsfield to name a few.
A Great Springboard and Showcase for the Younger Players Around the Globe
It’s a real eclectic mix for bettors to unravel with some young talent joining the mix, led by TK Chantananuwat who at fifteen years of age has already won on the Asian Tour. Viraj Madappa brings India representation at the tender age of twenty-four, Jediah Morgan from Australia while James Piot, Turk Petit and Andy Ogletree represent the golfing youth of America.
What Do We Know About the Centurion Course?
The Centurion Club is a par 72, 7195-yard parkland track designed by Simon Gidman. The course is known for its pristine conditions of fairways and greens with some tight tree-lined holes that require a strategic approach.
Will the 54-Hole Format Be a Leveller?
With no cut and fifty-four holes encompassing a shotgun start this is going to be one hell of a change from the status quo of golf. It remains to be seen how it plays out but to have all the players teeing off simultaneously and no weather advantage is pretty cool.
While the fifty-four hole event has the normal connotations for a singles event, it’s not the only competition for the players who have been split into teams of four with the top 3 teams receiving $3 million for first, $1.5 million for runner up and $500,000 for third.
The singles prize money and event will take precedence with the winner receiving a whopping $4 million and the 48th $120,000.
Can We Expect the Players to Be Motivated as Normal?
With a mere $2,125,000 for the runner-up, you can bet your bottom dollar that the players will be motivated. That means a 50% reduction for the runner-up and we know that the players supporting LIV Golf Invitational in London love the big bucks!
Odds to Win the LIV Golf Invitational Series London
- Dustin Johnson +500
- Talor Gooch +900
- Louis Oosthuizen +1100
- Kevin Na +1400
- Sergio Garcia +1400
- Bernd Wiesberger +1800
- +2000 bar
*Odds available at Bet365
The Question for Bettors Is? Who to Bet?
It’s fair to say, Dustin Johnson has been below his brilliant best for the last 18 months since his Masters’ win in the Fall of 2020. For me, he’s a favorite to take on in this opening event but we must keep stakes modest while we become familiar with how the new format plays out.
Let’s look to the winner coming from a player out of the media glare. We all know the lead-up to the LIV Golf Invitational in London has been controversial so perhaps we need to look for players in good current form who have managed to keep themselves out of the media gaze.
Justin Harding Fits the Bill Perfectly
South African, Justin Harding has managed to keep himself out of the media circus and the 36-year-old is one hell of a competitor on the European Tour. He has the added advantage of playing last week’s Asian Tour warm-up in England at Slaley Hall when he finished a respectable 4th.
With a strong plethora of European Tour form, Harding is just the sort to take down the $4,000,000 first prize given he’s a multiple winner so add him amongst your best golf bets this week at the Bet365 price of +2200.
LIV Golf Invitational Series London Pick: Justin Harding – win (+2200) at Bet365
LIV Golf Invitational Series London Pick: Justin Harding – Top 10 (+163) at Unibet
Scott Vincent Can Grind Down the Top Players Who Are in the “Looking Glass” This Week
There are not many players as adept at winning in world golf currently as Scott Vincent. The thirty-year-old Zimbabwean won last week’s event in Slaley Hall on the back of the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open the week prior. He rubbed shoulders with the top players in the sport at last year’s Olympics with a respectable 16th.
Like Harding, I cannot imagine Scott Vincent being out of the top 10 this week and if he gets the opportunity, we know he’s a proven winner.
Take the hint and back Scott Vincent at the great price of +2800 with Unibet and add in a top 10 bet as a banker.
LIV Golf Invitational Series London Pick: Scott Vincent – win (+2800) at Unibet
LIV Golf Invitational Series London Pick: Scott Vincent – Top 10 (+180) at Bet365
