2024 LIV Golf Miami: Power Rankings, Defending Champion, Prize Money and More

LIV Golf returns to Miami after stopping at Jeddah and Hong Kong last month. The par 72, 7590-yard course at Trump Doral will be a test of strength and accuracy for 54 LIV Golfers. For the third consecutive year, the PIF-funded league is heading to Blue Monster. On two previous occasions, Trump Doral played host to the season-ending team championship. Yet to crown an individual winner for LIV, this is a first-time opportunity for all 52 regular players and two wild-card entries.

While Anthony Kim has already raised the hype after clips from his interview with David Feherty went viral, the 38-year-old is not among the top contenders for the title. Rather, it’s the crème de la crème of the PIF-funded side, including their marquee signing, Jon Rahm, who will once again be the hot favorite to walk up to the podium. Ahead of the $25 million purse tournament beginning on April 5, here are our top five picks.

Jon Rahm

No win this season so far for the defending Masters champion. But Jon Rahm has already knocked off four top-tens in LIV Golf. The 29-year-old has seven top-10s in as many outings, stretching back to the 2023 BMW PGA Championship. 

Rahm has made the most number of birdies at LIV Golf this season. Also, his Greens in Regulation percentage of 75 is the second-best in the field this year. Before heading to Augusta National to become the first player since Tiger Woods to defend their Green Jacket, the Blue Monster provides an ideal challenge for the Spanish International.

Joaquin Niemann

Arguably the most successful player this season at LIV Golf, Joaquin Niemann, has won twice in the span of two months. You need to go back to LIV Chicago in September to find the Chilean outside of the top ten in any tournaments. Niemann has also scored a sub-60 round at Mayakoba. 

The 25-year-old carded 6-under 66 at the LIV Golf Team Championship last year, the second-best in the field. The former PGA Tour Pro had a T16 at Augusta National last year. bore Before this year’s Masters, for which he has toiled hard across the globe, he is the bettor’s second favorite, with +750 to Jon Rahm’s +600 on BetMGM.

Bryson DeChambeau

If there is anyone whose game is tailormade for the course, it’s Bryson DeChambeau. The Blue Monster has nine holes measuring 450 yards or higher, two of which are 550+ and two 600+. A power-hitter like Bryson DeChambeau, undoubtedly, holds that advantage at Trump Doral. Last year, DeChambeau carded 67, the third-best in the field, leading his team to victory. At 320.6 yards, the 30-year-old leads the field in driving distance. DeChambeau has netted three top-10s from his last four outings. 

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Dustin Johnson

The 4Aces captain has won one title so far this season with another top-five finish. What’s more interesting, Dustin Johnson’s team was the 2022 Team Championship winner at Trump Doral, and the 24-time PGA Tour winner himself has an impeccable track record at the Blue Monster. Johnson won the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Miami, his eighth PGA Tour title.

The former Masters Champion is third in the season-long LIV leaderboard this year. After a T27 and T21 in his last two outings, Johnson will look to this Masters tune-up event as his chance to bolster his hopes at Augusta National. 

Brooks Koepka

You can never put him out of contention, can you? Brooks Koepka has three top-20 finishes this season, starting with a T5 at Mayakoba. Although the five-time Major winner was out of contention in Hong Kong, the Smash GC captain is expected to capitalize on the home-soil opportunity to bounce back before the first Major of the season. Koepka is sixth in the Greens to Regulation (74.07%). The Smash GC skipper also has extra motivation; he is eying a three-peat with his team at LIV Golf Miami.

Aside from the usual suspects, Cameron Smith and Talor Gooch are expected to be in contention. The Australian came close last time in Hong Kong but lost in a playoff to Abraham Ancer. Gooch, last year’s Player of the Year in the upstart league, has two top-tens this season. LIV Golf Miami tees off on April 5 with $20 million for individual prize money and $5 million for the team competition. The winner here will pocket $4 million.

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