Most of the LIV golf stars are heading to Saudi Arabia this week for the PIF-sponsored Saudi International, led by Joaquin Niemann and Tyrell Hatton.
Best Bet
Hatton is the best desert player on the planet and in his current form he should go very close to winning here. Won the Alfred Dunhill Links three starts back and then two Top 6 finishes in the desert. Since winning in Nashville in June he has the Dunhill Links win and five more Top 6 finishes to go with a further two Top 18s in 10 starts. Ranks 2nd in Putting Average, 6th in Scrambling and 7th in Strokes Gained: Around The Green.
Mid-Tier Bet
South African Dean Burmester is flying. In the last 12 1/2 months he has four wins and two major Top 20s. He won in South Africa two starts back. Finished Top 5 in Qatar last week. Ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, 5th in Driving Distance and 10th in Scrambling.
Value Bet
Suspect Marc Leishman is turning things around after a somewhat underwhelming year. Posted consecutive T-3s in Australia and had four Top 10s in his last nine LIV events. Ranks 5th in Scrambling and 7th in Strokes Gained: Around The Green on LIV. Finished T-6 here last year
Longshot Bet
Johnson won two of the first three events staged here at Royal Greens. Form off the tee is important here and Johnson ranks Top 10 in both Driving Distance and Strokes Gained: Off The Tee. Won in Vegas in February and done nothing since but we should see his best at a course he loves.
