The 12th event of the LIV Golf League season gets started this week at LIV Golf Chicago. Serving as the host course once again is Bolingbrook Golf Club.
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Here is who our experts like this week.
JASON CROOK, SENIOR DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
INDIVIDUAL
Bubba Watson – He nearly stole the show at LIV Golf UK by JCB, and would have been the talk of the golf world if not for Joaquin Niemann doing Joaquin Niemann things and winning his fifth individual victory of the season. The RangeGoats GC captain has found some form with three finishes inside the top seven, including his second-place finish in the UK. Look for the two-time Masters champ to continue turning back the clock this week and possibly pick up his first LIV Golf victory in Chicago.
TEAM
Fireballs GC – Fireballs GC has been on a roller-coaster ride this season, and they’re suddenly on the ascent once again. The Sergio Garcia-led squad cooled off after three straight wins earlier this year, but they’re looking primed for another win after finishing in the top 5 in the last 3 events. They also finished T2 at this course last year. Don’t be surprised if they pick up their fourth win of 2025 come Sunday at Bolingbrook.
MIKE MCALLISTER, DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL
INDIVIDUAL
Jon Rahm – OK, so I’m not exactly going out on a limb in picking the defending Chicago champion and this year’s No. 2-ranked player in season-long points. On the flip side, Jon Rahm has yet to win this year and desperately needs a victory this week to have any realistic shot of overtaking Joaquin Niemann for the Individual Championship.
TEAM
Crushers GC – The Crushers won last year and that was with Charles Howell III having just returned from a lengthy injury. Everybody’s healthy now, and the Crushers need two great weeks in Chicago and Indy to over Legion XIII for the top seed heading into the Team Championship.
BRYAN MULLEN, DIGITAL PRODUCER
INDIVIDUAL
Talor Gooch – The 2023 Individual Champion is heating up at the right moment. The Smash GC star won the individual trophy three weeks ago at LIV Golf Andalucia and is coming off a fourth-place finish at LIV Golf UK by JCB, giving him three top-5 finishes in his last five events. Gooch, who sits fourth in the Individual Standings, finished T15 in Chicago last year and ended the week with a strong 3-under 68.
TEAM
Crushers GC – It might not seem like a reach to pick the defending team champions at LIV Golf Chicago, but Crushers GC have lost some of its dominance in the last two events. The team picked off three consecutive wins but has finished seventh and T4 in its last two tournaments. Bryson DeChambeau doesn’t like sitting second in the team standings behind Legion XIII and knows a move needs to be made.
MATT VINCENZI, SENIOR WRITER
INDIVIDUAL
Brooks Koepka- Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka gave little cause for optimism after missing the cut at the Open Championship and finishing T47 at LIV Golf UK by JCB, but I suspect he could surprise this week at LIV Golf Chicago. The five-time major champion is still looking to make a last-ditch effort to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup and knows it’ll likely take at least one win for him to do so. Koepka seems locked in and focused here at Bolingbrook Golf Club and knows he has something to prove.
TEAM
Fireballs GC – Last year, Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia finished T2 at Bolingbrook, and the Fireballs now enter the week with their supporting cast in great form. Abraham Ancer, David Puig and Josele Ballester all have top-14 finishes in their past three starts.
