Where to watch LIV Golf Chicago
Live on ITVX & LIV Golf Plus app from 5.05pm on Friday
Best bets
Bryson DeChambeau to win threeball
2pts 23-20 bet365
Bryson DeChambeau first-round leader
1pt 10-1 Coral
Abraham Ancer top Mexican
2pts 5-6 bet365
LIV Golf Chicago first-round predictions
The penultimate event of the 2025 LIV Golf League begins in Chicago on Friday and individual points race leader Joaquin Niemann will be hoping for another fast start as he bids to seal the season-long individual title.
A five-time LIV champion this year, Niemann has built up a substantial lead over closest pursuer Jon Rahm, who joins the Chilean in a first-round threeball at Bolingbrook Golf Club. Bubba Watson, a runner-up at LIV UK last time out, completes the trio.
The best threeball bet comes elsewhere, however, and Bryson DeChambeau is taken to outscore Tyrrell Hatton and Cameron Smith over the first 18 holes in Illinois – and he also looks worth a punt to be the first-round leader.
DeChambeau has been making fast starts on the LIV Tour this year, compiling a first-round scoring average of 68.18 from 11 events, which compares favourably to Niemann’s 69.18, as well as that of his playing partners Hatton (70.18) and Smith (69.72).
The big-hitting American was sixth at Bolingbrook last year, carding consistent rounds of 68-69-68, and he has an excellent record in northern US states. His first PGA Tour triumph came in Illinois at the John Deere Classic, and he’s won titles in Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, New York (twice) and Massachusetts.
He also won this tournament at a different course, Rich Harvest Farms, in 2023, and he should come out firing again in Chicago.
Abraham Ancer catches the eye in the two-runner top Mexican market. He was 11th at Bolingbrook last season and third at LIV Andalucia last month.
His compatriot, Carlos Ortiz, hit a rich vein of form in the spring but has been poor in recent LIV appearances, finishing 40th in Dallas, 48th in Andalucia and 25th in the UK.
Read more golf tips from the Racing Post:
LIV Chicago predictions: Gooch can blow away rivals in Windy City
FedEx St Jude Championship predictions: Henley set to flourish in Tennessee
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