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Fox News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
LIV Golf Andalucia Preview: Sergio Garcia Eyes Repeat At 'My Favorite Course'
LIV Golf returns to historic Real Club Valderrama for the third consecutive season for this week's LIV Golf Andalucia, the 10th tournament of the 14-event 2025 season. When: July 11-13, 2025Where: Real Club Valderrama, San Roque, Cádiz, SpainCompetition: Three rounds/54 holes of stroke playField: 54 players — 13 teams of four players each, and two wild cardsDefending champions: Sergio Garcia (individual), Fireballs GC (team) Shotgun Start (ET)Rd. 1, Friday - 7 2, Saturday - 7 3, Sunday - 6:30 a.m. Spanish-born Sergio Garcia, the captain of Fireballs GC, calls Real Club Valderrama "my favorite course in the world." Given that Garcia has won four professional tournaments there, including his breakthrough LIV Golf individual playoff in 2024, it's no wonder a smile crosses his face whenever he talks about Valderrama. The 45-year-old Garcia certainly is happy to return to the course for this week's LIV Golf Andalucía for the third consecutive year. "It's super special," Garcia said. "Not only for me but for all of us because of how much Valderrama means to all of us, to Europe, all the amazing things that have happened here on this golf course." Last year was certainly amazing for both Garcia and his Fireballs, as they swept both trophies via playoff – the only time in LIV Golf's young history that a tournament has produced a double playoff for the individual and team titles. "It's been great to me," Garcia said. Garcia is not the only Spanish-born captain in LIV Golf. Legion XIII's Jon Rahm also enjoys returning to his home country to play Valderrama, the first course in Continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup in 1997. "It's all subjective, but it's probably the best golf course we have in Spain," Rahm said. "It's something that we all grew up wanting to play." Cleeks Golf Club Captain Martin Kaymer was born in Germany but now resides in the Sotogrande area that includes Valderrama. He's been close on several occasions in his pro career to lifting a trophy there. "One of those venues where I wanted to put my name on the trophy," Kaymer said. "I came close. I think I finished five or six times in the top 5. So, it's a golf course that I like, that I enjoy playing, that I can play well. It's a matter of time, hopefully." Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC have won the last three LIV Golf team titles and will seek a fourth straight trophy at LIV Golf Andalucía. If they win at Valderrama, it would match the LIV Golf record for longest win streak by either a team or individual. 4 – 4Aces GC (2022 Portland/Bedminster/Boston/Chicago) 3 – Crushers GC (2025 Korea/Virginia/Dallas)3 – Fireballs GC (2025 Adelaide/Hong Kong/Singapore) 2 – Ripper GC (2024 Adelaide/Singapore)2 – Crushers GC (2024 Jeddah/Hong Kong)2 – Torque GC (2023 DC/Andalucía) San Roque, Cádiz, Spain Par: 71Yardage: 7,010Meters: 6,410 Bogey Avoidance: Much more important than birdie rate. The average top-5 finisher at this course has made 2.75 bogeys per round vs 4.25 for the other players finishing in the top 50. Finding Fairways: The value of distance is the lowest all season, averaging at just +0.11 per hole. There is also severe miss fairway penalty in play, average +0.40. Driver will likely only be used 6/7 times at the most. Inside 150 Yards: Players will face 52% of their approach shots this week with the wedges inside of 150 yards vs the season average of 32.5%. Lag Putting: Because the penalty for missing greens is so severe, players focus on the middle and larger parts of the greens instead of aiming for flags. Thus, longer lag first putts are more impactful. This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
LIV Golf Andalucía: Talor Gooch Leads After Rd. 2; Dustin Johnson's 4Aces Surge
SAN ROQUE, Spain – Two years after posting his last LIV Golf win at Andalucía, Talor Gooch is displaying the same kind of form that won him the league's Individual Championship in 2023. The Smash GC star shot a second-round 5-under 66 on Saturday to grab a commanding four-shot lead after 36 holes at the historic Real Club Valderrama. It's the first time he's led after 36 holes since his breakthrough season two years ago, when he won three times. Dustin Johnson, captain of the 4Aces team that Gooch played for during the inaugural 2022 season, is his closest pursuer at 3 under. Stinger GC's Branden Grace, battling relegation, is another stroke back in solo third. Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, 4Aces GC's Patrick Reed — winner two weeks ago in Dallas — and Iron Heads GC's Jinichiro Kozuma are tied for fourth at 1 under. The 4Aces are seeking their first win since 2023, like Gooch, and top the team leaderboard at 2 over, one stroke ahead of Smash and five ahead of Legion XIII. Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC, seeking their fourth consecutive victory, are in sixth place, nine strokes off the pace. Saturday's play included the completion of the first round, which had been suspended on Friday due to severe winds and the threat of dangerous conditions. After finishing his final five holes, Gooch emerged with a share of the 18-hole lead with Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith and Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann at 2 under, and then was the only one who kept his position on a challenging but less blustery afternoon. While Gooch has good vibes at Valderrama, he also understands the difficulties of protecting a lead on this challenging course. A year ago, Anirban Lahiri entered the final round with the same four-shot lead but ultimately lost in a playoff to Fireballs GC Captain and local favorite Sergio Garcia, who rallied from seven strokes down. Amazingly, Garcia is in the same exact position this year — even par through 36 holes and seven strokes back. "In general, on LIV, there's really no lead that's safe, especially at a golf course like this," Gooch said. "Things can happen quickly, and you're one shot away from a big number. There's definitely no sense of [relaxation] or calmness. "I know DJ (Dustin Johnson) is right behind me. … There's just too many good players out here to feel like I'm comfortable just showing up and winning this tomorrow. I've got to play a really good round of golf to get this thing done." Johnson won the Individual Championship in 2022, and Gooch followed a year later. Both have worked hard to regain their form and improve on their results in 2025. Johnson shot a bogey-free 7-under 64, the lowest round through the first two days and his second-lowest round, relative to par, this season. "My game has been really good [in] the last month and a half or so," said Johnson, who is seeking to win a LIV Golf tournament for the fourth consecutive year. "Just haven't really seen the results that I feel like I should be shooting. "Today, it was nice to actually put together a really solid round." After a difficult start to the season, Gooch has put together several solid rounds lately, recently producing a four-tournament stretch of top-15 finishes. He's happy to see his increased practice routine paying dividends. "I've found a lot of dirt on the range," he said. "Just worked my tail off. It's good to see all of those hours and hours kind of paying off." But the job is not complete. When Gooch won at Valderrama in 2023, he had to overtake DeChambeau on the final day. Last year's result showed that a rally from seven shots down is possible. Valderrama is a difficult course, and scores can go off the rails fast, leaving the door open for the chasers. "I've got a chance," Johnson said. "It's doable," added Rahm. "Everything has to go my way tomorrow," noted Garcia. "Not only do I have to play really well, but then the leaders have to play badly. It's a big combination of things." Gooch is ready for the challenge — and ready to return to the top of the podium. "Nothing is given tomorrow," he said. "Just because I played good today, it has no bearing on the results tomorrow. Tomorrow is a fresh day, and we've got to go have a great day." LIV Golf's new scoring format this season now involves all four scores now counting in every round in the team competition. Here are the results and scores for each team after Round 1 and Round 2 of LIV Golf Andalucía. 1. 4ACES GC +2 (Johnson 64, Reed 71, Pieters 72, Varner III 72; Rd. 2 score: -5)2. SMASH GC +3 (Gooch 66, Koepka 70, McDowell 71, Kokrak 72; Rd. 2 score: -5)3. LEGION XIII +7 (McKibbin 69, Rahm 70, Hatton 72, Surratt 76; Rd. 2 score: +3)4. FIREBALLS GC +8 (Ancer 69, Garcia 69, Puig 70, Ballester 75; Rd. 2 score: -1)5. HYFLYERS GC +10 (Steele 70, Tringale 71, Mickelson 72, Ogletree 72; Rd. 2 score: +1)6. CRUSHERS GC +11 (DeChambeau 72, Howell III 73, Lahiri 73, Casey 74; Rd. 2 score: +8)7. IRON HEADS GC +12 (Kozuma 68, Lee 68, Jang 72, Na 73; Rd. 2 score: -3)8. CLEEKS GC +13 (Meronk 70, Kaymer 72, Bland 73, Kjettrup 74; Rd. 2 score: +5)9. STINGER GC +15 (Oosthuizen 69, Grace 70, Schwartzel 72, Burmester 73; Rd. 2 score: E)T10. RANGEGOATS GC +17 (Campbell 69, Watson 71, Uihlein 72, Masaveu 75; Rd. 2 score: +3)T10. MAJESTICKS GC +17 (Horsfield 70, Stenson 72, Westwood 72, Poulter 75; Rd. 2 score: +5)T12. TORQUE GC +19 (Muñoz 70, Pereira 72, Ortiz 73, Niemann 75; Rd. 2 score: +6)T12. RIPPER GC +19 (Jones 70, Herbert 72, Smith 73, Leishman 79; Rd. 2 score: +10)Wild Cards: C. Lee 73, Kim 73 1. CRUSHERS GC +3 (DeChambeau 70, Casey 72, Howell III 72, Lahiri 73)2. LEGION XIII +4 (Rahm 72, Surratt 71, Hatton 72, McKibbin 74)3. 4ACES GC +7 (Reed 70, Pieters 73, Varner III 73, Johnson 75)T4. CLEEKS GC +8 (Bland 71, Kaymer 73, Meronk 73, Kjettrup 75)T4. SMASH GC +8 (Gooch 69, Kokrak 71, Koepka 76, McDowell 76)T6. HYFLYERS GC +9 (Mickelson 72, Tringale 73, Ogletree 74, Steele 74)T6. RIPPER GC +9 (Smith 69, Jones 74, Leishman 74, Herbert 76)T6. FIREBALLS GC +9 (Ancer 73, Ballester 73, Garcia 73, Puig 74)9. MAJESTICKS GC +12 (Poulter 71, Horsfield 74, Westwood 74, Stenson 77)10. TORQUE GC +13 (Niemann 69, Muñoz 74, Pereira 75, Ortiz 79)11. RANGEGOATS GC +14 (Uihlein 73, Campbell 74, Watson 74, Masaveu 77)T12. IRON HEADS GC +15 (Kozuma 73, Na 73, Jang 76, Lee 77)T12. STINGER GC +15 (Grace 70, Schwartzel 74, Oosthuizen 77, Burmester 78)Wild Cards: C. Lee 73, Kim 76 This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.
Arab News
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Five players, three teams tied for lead at LIV Golf Andalucía
SAN ROQUE: With his Australian heritage and Open Championship pedigree, Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith knows a thing or two about playing golf in blustery conditions. Rarely has he experienced an afternoon like Friday's first round of LIV Golf Andalucía at Real Club Valderrama. Severe winds reduced scoring opportunities and eventually forced a suspension of play due to unplayable conditions — the first time in league history that a round could not be completed in a single day. 'You can play this golf course with no wind and it's brutal,' Smith said. 'When you get 30 mile-an-hour gusts, it's definitely not an easy place to get around.' Play was set to resume on Saturday, with players having between three and five holes remaining in their opening rounds. Smith was one of just five players under par when the horn blew to suspend play. He shares the overnight lead at 1 under with Smash GC's Talor Gooch, the individual winner at Valderrama in 2023; Majesticks GC Co-Captain Lee Westwood; Stinger GC's Branden Grace and Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, the current Individual points leader seeking his fifth win of the season. Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm are one stroke back — the only other players who did not leave the course Friday over par. The Crushers, seeking their fourth consecutive team title, are tied for first with Legion XIII and Brooks Koepka's Smash GC on the team leaderboard at 5 over. Friday's round started under breezy but manageable conditions, but the wind speed increased throughout the afternoon as the direction changed. At 5:07 p.m. local time, just over four hours after the shotgun start, the horn blew. Tournament officials were hopeful for a resumption, but the forecast was not favorable and included the potential of dangerous conditions. 'Terribly unfortunate situation to be in for anybody out here,' said Brad Ullman, vice president, rules, at LIV Golf. 'These Poniente winds of southern Spain are no joke.' From a competition standpoint, the biggest issues came on the greens. A combination of dry putting surfaces and high-impact wind gusts prevented putts from stopping and golf balls from remaining still at address. At the most exposed parts of the course, particularly the greens on the 11th and 14th holes, putting was near-impossible. 'Ultimately the balls were moving a little bit too much for our liking,' Ullman said. 'It was the right thing to bring them off the golf course.' No surprise that Niemann, who has won every event this season on even-numbered weeks, is among the leaders on the 10th event of the 2025 schedule. He birdied his third hole of the day, the par-5 fourth, and made par on his other 14 holes — the only player without a bogey on Friday. Westwood, who last week won a final qualifying tournament to earn exemption into next week's Open, was the early leader after birdies in four of his first seven holes. A double bogey derailed his momentum, but he finished the day with four consecutive pars. Gooch has good vibes at Valderrama, having won LIV Golf Andalucía in 2023 en route to the Individual Championship. He endured a rollercoaster seven-hole stretch that included three birdies and three bogeys, then ended his round by knocking his approach shot to 2 feet at the par-4 10th to end with a birdie. Grace, battling the potential of relegation for the second consecutive season, is on pace for his best first-round position this season. He was a bogey-free 1 under through his first 10 holes and then responded to his two bogeys with two birdies. Smith was bogey-free through his first 13 holes and leading by three shots at 4 under. It was one of his best stretches of golf this year, but it ended with a double bogey and bogey before play ended. 'It's easy to feel frustrated, particularly when I doubled 15 and then bogeyed 16 as well,' Smith said. 'I was trotting along pretty good before that. 'But it's golf. Golf isn't fair, at the end of the day. Were the conditions fair? Probably not for a little bit, but it is what it is. We'll get on with it. I'm sure we'll make a good tournament out of it.' For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport T1. SMASH GC +5 (Gooch -1, Kokrak +1, McDowell +2, Koepka +3) T1. CRUSHERS GC +5 (DeChambeau E, Casey +1, Howell III +2, Lahiri +2) T1. LEGION XIII +5 (Rahm E, Hatton +1, Surratt +1, McKibbin +3) 4. 4ACES GC +8 (Reed +1, Johnson +2, Pieters +2, Varner III +3) T5. HYFLYERS GC +9 (Mickelson +1, Tringale +2, Ogletree +3, Steele +3) T5. MAJESTICKS GC +9 (Westwood -1, Poulter +1, Horsfield +4, Stenson +5) 7. CLEEKS GC +10 (Bland +1, Meronk +1, Kaymer +4, Kjettrup +4) T8. RIPPER GC +11 (Smith -1, Jones +2, Leishman +4, Herbert +6) T8. RANGEGOATS GC +11 (Watson +1, Campbell +2, Uihlein +3, Masaveu +5) T8. FIREBALLS GC +11 (Ancer +2, Garcia +2, Ballester +3, Puig +4) 11. TORQUE GC +14 (Niemann +1, Muñoz +3, Pereira +4, Ortiz +8) 12. STINGER GC +15 (Grace -1, Oosthuizen +5, Schwartzel +5, Burmester +6) 13. IRON HEADS GC +16 (Kozuma +2, Na +2, Jang +5, Lee +7) Wild Cards: C. Lee +2, Kim +6
Associated Press
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
LIV Golf Andalucia Partial Par Scores
Friday At Real Club Valderrama Sotogrande, Spain Purse: $20M (Individual); $5M (Team) Yardage: 7,010; Par: 71 First Round Suspended due to weather Team Scores
Arab News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
LIV Golf announces partnership with HSBC
LONDON/NEW YORK: LIV Golf and HSBC have announced a partnership aimed at growing the game worldwide. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport HSBC is LIV Golf's first partnership with a global financial organization. The multi-year pact will span LIV Golf's 14-event season, and support two of its 13 teams, starting at LIV Golf Andalucia from July 11 to 13 at Real Club Valderrama. HSBC will play a role in supporting LIV Golf's community partnerships strategy that opens up opportunities for the next generation of golfers, as well as financial literacy initiatives. 'HSBC's track record in supporting and advancing the game of golf is inspiring and admirable, and we are proud to welcome them into LIV Golf's growing roster of global partners,' said Scott O'Neil, LIV Golf's CEO. 'HSBC's global footprint and ongoing presence in professional tournaments align perfectly with our mission to build the game for the next era of players and fans. 'Few sports leagues can claim a truly global reach, making a partnership with HSBC a natural alignment in our pursuit of a shared vision.' He added: 'We appreciate HSBC's confidence in supporting some of the world's biggest stars as they introduce and showcase the sport and its opportunities to new audiences worldwide. 'Together, we have an opportunity to engage younger fans, connect through music, culture, and innovation, and inspire the next generation, unlocking meaningful potential for both our brands and the sport we love.' Barry O'Byrne, HSBC's CEO of international wealth and premier banking, said: 'We are delighted to join forces with LIV Golf and are really excited to see what we can create together. 'HSBC has more than two decades of legacy in the sport and we can't wait to bring another level of excitement to our clients and sport fans. We are looking forward to working with LIV Golf to continue to attract new audiences to watch and play the game.' In recognition of LIV Golf's position as the only global league pioneering team contests, the partnership will include specific support for some of the competing sides. This includes Crushers GC, captained by Bryson DeChambeau, and Majesticks GC, co-captained by Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson. HSBC will also become the presenting partner of LIV Golf's '9 to Play' segment during every live broadcast, with a potential reach of over 875 million households across more than 120 international markets. DeChambeau said: 'LIV Golf and Crushers GC deliver both the game and golf culture to new generations and markets across the world with a competitive spirit at our core. We are proud to represent HSBC, a brand that shares our belief in access to golf and elite performance on a global stage.' Westwood commented: 'HSBC has been a leader in shaping the global game of golf for decades; this new partnership strengthens our team and reinforces the global momentum behind LIV Golf.' He added that 'together, we're building something special that resonates far beyond the fairways. It will be an honor to wear the HSBC brand as we represent Majesticks GC around the world.' HSBC's support of golf dates back more than two decades and includes some of the most iconic tournaments around the world. Through this partnership, LIV Golf joins the ranks of contests including The Open, AIG Women's Open, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, HSBC Women's World Championship (Singapore), and CGA-HSBC China Golf Program.
