2023 LIV Golf Valderrama Power Rankings, Prize Money and Other Major Details

The season that started with uncertainty evolved into a successful spell for LIV Golf. Till now, it has completed seven events all across the world. The next stop for the league is a lesser-known venue in Spain—Valderrama. While the venue is not a popular one, the anticipation for the tournament will be the same as the previous tournaments.

The viewers and players will be specifically excited because this event is coming after a week’s break from the US Open. In the third major of the year, 15 LIV golfers were part of the 156-man field. Out of these 15 players, 10 individuals were able to make the cut for the 123rd US Open which is considered a huge triumph in itself. In accordance with this hype, let us take a look at the playing field and other characteristics of LIV Golf Valderrama.

Top five picks to likely outshine others on the greens in Southern Spain

Currently, no list has been out officially regarding the power rankings at the LIV Golf Valderrama. However, taking into consideration the performance at the previous LIV events, these five players are likely to watch out for:

5. Branden Grace: The South African golfer has surprised almost everyone with his skills in his last two LIV Golf events. At present, he sits on the second berth in the LIV player rankings. Even though he hasn’t won a tournament yet at LIV Golf this year, his efforts have allowed the golfer to finish in the top positions frequently. This resilience and hard work make Grace a tough contender.

4. Brooks Koepka: There is no one who will deny Koepka‘s dominance on the field in 2023. First, the second finish at the Masters in Augusta and then a win at the PGA Championship are enough proof for the same. If this was not enough, the 33-year-old professional is in third place on the player standings of LIV Golf.

3. Cameron Smith: This 29-year-old golfer made a name for himself when he clinched victory at the 2022 Open Championship. Since then, there are only a few lows he has experienced when it comes to his career. The recent 2023 US Open witnessed some brilliant putting from Smith which ascended him to finish at 4th place 6 under par. All of this combined together makes Cameron Smith an interesting pick to look out for.

2. Dustin Johnson: When DJ did not have an ideal finish to his third major, he still proved why he is one of the best golfers in the world. The first round at LACC was completely bewitched by the golfer’s skills and precision of shots. He finished the tournament at T10. However, it is not Dustin Johnson’s US Open performance alone that makes him one of the favorites. Rather, the professional showcased how exceptionally he can execute his plan at the LIV Golf Tulsa which created a lot of hype among the fans as well.

1. Sergio Garcia: Even though the Spaniard hasn’t been able to accomplish his goals quite easily this year, the past few weeks have been a lot merciful on the golfer. Sergio Garcia, after unfortunately missing the PGA Championship, made a comeback at the 2023 US Open. Now, as he moves to Valderrama, he would be hoping to convert the start into a win. The reason is that the course is Garcia’s favorite and viewers would love to see him tame the greens.

Other than these players, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Taylor Gooch are also among the favorites who are likely to perform well starting June 30.

Prize Money and defending champion of the LIV Golf Valderrama

Just like every other LIV Golf event, the event from June 30- July 2 will also have a whopping $25 million purse. Out of this massive amount, $20 million is reserved for the player tournament and the rest of the five million dollars is for the team event. This colossal cash prize will allow the winner to take home $4 million.

While the prize is eye-catching, it wouldn’t allow the players to gather any OWGR points. LIV golfers can improve their world ranking through major tournaments.

Most of the buzz has surrounded Sergio Garcia since the golfer would be teeing up in his homeland. The fans are especially eager to after a confident practice session the golfer has recently indulged in. However, this is the first time LIV Golf will welcome the Spanish crowd.

Read More: What Is LIV Golf? Digging Deep Into the Hidden Meaning of Greg Norman’s Saudi-Arabia-Backed League

Hence, there haven’t been any defending champions for the tournament. Although, the past events saw many golfers being crowned as the winner, including Dustin Johnson, Taylor Gooch, Harold Varner III, and others.

The gorgeous course of LIV Golf Valderrama and other details

Spread on the luscious 7010 yards, the par offered by this beautiful course is 71. All ready to welcome the 48-man field, Real Club Valderrama is one of the best courses in the European continent. As a matter of fact, LIV Golf will welcome its first event of the season in Europe. The golf course is a classical green that has witnessed numerous stories over the years.

Given its history, the golf course is sure to be a reminiscing experience for two golfers. This includes Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. While Phil Mickelson was part of the US Team when it participated in the same venue in the 1997 Ryder Cup, Garcia won his Andalucia Masters in 2011 at Real Club.

In addition to its rich past, the golf course also boasts picturesque greens. These greens are surrounded by beautiful cork trees and consist of narrow fairways. Apart from the trees, the rest of the nature also adds to the aesthetics of the course. Despite such a beautiful outlook, it is sure to challenge the best of golfers in terms of skills and creativity.

Who is your pick to win this event? Let us know in the comments below.

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