The LIV Tour returns after a three-week break on Friday and 13 players in the Miami field will hope a strong performance will fill them with confidence ahead of next week’s trip to Augusta National for the Masters.
Trump National Doral will play host to the three-round tournament and it will be a test upon which the big hitters are expected to flourish as the Blue Monster measures a whopping 7,701 yards with water lurking at virtually every turn.
The Florida track previously played host to three WGC-Cadillac Championships and many of the players will be familiar with its demands, having played the season-ending team competition here in the last two LIV campaigns.
Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm is set to go off as favourite despite being one of the few members of the field who has not pitted his wits against the demands of this course.
- Dustin Johnson to win and each-way
- Bryson DeChambeau to win and each-way
- Paul Casey to win and each-way
Johnson On Familiar Turf
One player who will fancy himself for a big run at another Green Jacket at Augusta next week is Dustin Johnson and this could prove the ideal preparation as he looks to replicate his triumph at the autumn Masters of 2020.
Johnson has flourished at Doral before, finishing fourth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in 2014 and then claiming the trophy the following year, so he undoubtedly has the required ability and strength off the tee to post another strong finish.
With Rahm heading to the Trump National for the first time, Johnson looks a much more attractive betting proposition, especially as he won the last LIV Stateside get-together in Las Vegas and also led his 4 Aces team to a triumph here at the end of the 2022 campaign.
DUSTIN JOHNSON TO WIN & EACH-WAY
DeChambeau To Prove A Point
Another player who is always interesting to observe in the run-up to The Masters is Bryson DeChambeau and the big-hitting boffin looks set to flourish this week.
His form is solid after a fourth place in Jeddah and seventh place in Hong Kong, and he will be charged up for a big performance, knowing he has to deliver the goods next week with his five-year Masters exemption for winning the 2020 US Open soon to expire.
Like Johnson, he has also been a winning captain at Doral after his Crushers won the team event last year, so the venue also provides some happy memories.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Casey Finding Form
Paul Casey was also a member of that Crushers team and while he will not be heading down Magnolia Avenue next week, the Englishman has shown some strong form.
He was fifth in Las Vegas in February and second, alongside Cameron Smith, when he lost in a play-off to Abraham Ancer in Hong Kong.
Casey stayed in the Far East for the DP World Tour’s Singapore Classic, in which he finished sixth while most of his LIV rivals had their feet up, so he is capable of making a big impression.
