After a strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.
Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest's top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Although this is the first time the course has been a part of LIV Golf, it's hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.
Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It's possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to an Asian Tour player who described the greens as "the best [he's] ever played."
Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.
“I love the greens. They are fabulous," the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.
Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.
“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee."
“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big."
As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.
In his pre-tournament press conference this week, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.
“To play Sentosa effectively, you're going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”
Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.
Stat Leaders from LIV Golf Adelaide:
Fairways Hit
1.) Talor Gooch
2.) Henrik Stenson
3.) Brooks Koepka
4.) Dustin Johnson
5.) Bubba Watson
Greens in Regulation
1.) Talor Gooch
2.) Abraham Ancer
3.) Charl Schwartzel
4.) Jason Kokrak
5.) Brendan Steele
Birdies Made
1.) Phil Mickelson
2.) Talor Gooch
3.) Dustin Johnson
4.) Pat Perez
5.) Abraham Ancer
LIV Golf Individual Standings:
1.) Peter Uihlein
2.) Charles Howell III
3.) Talor Gooch
4.) Carlos Ortiz
5.) Patrick Reed
LIV Golf Team Standings:
1.) 4 Aces
2.) Torque
3.) Stinger
4.) Crushers
5.) Fireballs
LIV Golf Singapore Best Bets
Dustin Johnson (+1400)
It's been a slow start to 2023 for Dustin Johnson. He's finished 37th, 13th, seventh and 10th in his four LIV starts to go along with a disappointing T48 at the Masters. However, now that the season is rolling along, I expect DJ to start to get into a rhythm. He struggled in the first round last week in Australia and shot 71 but bounced back over the weekend to shoot 64-67 and backdoor the top 10.
Statistically, Johnson showed some encouraging signs at The Grove. He ranked fourth for the week in Fairways Hit and third in Birdies, so his game is certainly coming along. His Masters start also wasn't quite as disappointing as it seemed. He gained more than three strokes on approach at Augusta National and two strokes off the tee but just couldn't buy a putt.
In 2022, DJ was LIV's best player by a significant margin. Getting him at +1400 when his game is rounding back into form feels like a bargain and a good spot to "buy low" on the star.
Sergio Garcia (+2800)
Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by a whopping five strokes. Looking at the course setup, it's no surprise that a player like Sergio put forth a dominant performance here. He's long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he's in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces.
In Garcia's past three LIV Golf starts, he hasn't finished worse than 13th. Last week in Australia, he was incredibly steady all week, shooting three consecutive rounds of 68, and was +14.3 yards on the field in driving distance. His ability to hit it long off the tee should be much more of an advantage in Singapore than it was in Australia.
A familiar course may be just what Sergio needs to get his first LIV Golf win.
Anirban Lahiri (+2800)
Anirban Lahiri is arguably in the most consistent form of any player on LIV Golf. In his last two starts worldwide, the 34-year-old has finished runner up both times. Two weeks ago in Vietnam, Lahiri was runner up to Kieran Vincent, and last week he was the closest contender to Talor Gooch at LIV Adelaide. Baan shot -13 over the weekend in both Vietnam and Australia.
Sentosa should be a very comfortable spot for Lahiri. He's won on the Asian Tour seven times and has played a ton of golf in the area.
While speaking with Joy Chakravarty, Lahiri spoke about his current approach to the game.
“I think mentally I’ve managed to just get clearer and more focused…and get more involved in my process. Honestly, I am just counting my blessings and enjoying a new perspective. Probably, I am just playing with a lot less fear and probably not trying so hard and just letting go a little bit more.
“I’ve always found that a very hard thing to do. All golfers find that hard, but the last couple of weeks it’s come a little easier. There is a different approach, and I know why.”
Anirban now has two runner-up finishes on LIV, and Singapore seems like a perfect spot for the Indian star to break through.
