LIV Golf Andalucia Preview: Sergio Garcia Eyes Repeat At ‘My Favorite Course’

LIV Golf Andalucia Preview: Sergio Garcia Eyes Repeat At 'My Favorite Course'

“`html

LIV Golf Andalucia Preview: Sergio Garcia Eyes Repeat At ‘My Favorite Course’

LIV Golf returns to the historic Real Club Valderrama for the third consecutive season for this week’s LIV Golf Andalucia, marking the 10th tournament of the 14-event 2025 season.

BASIC INFO

When: July 11-13, 2025

Where: Real Club Valderrama, San Roque, Cádiz, Spain

Competition: Three rounds/54 holes of stroke play

Field: 54 players — 13 teams of four players each, and two wild cards

Defending champions: Sergio Garcia (individual), Fireballs GC (team)

Shotgun Start (ET)

  1. Rd. 1, Friday: 7 a.m.
  2. Rd. 2, Saturday: 7 a.m.
  3. Rd. 3, Sunday: 6:30 a.m.

Sergio Garcia and Fireballs GC celebrate with the trophy after winning LIV Golf Andalucia in 2024.

KEY STORYLINES

LIV Golf returns to Andalucía for the third consecutive season at the historic Valderrama course. Spanish legend Sergio Garcia and his Fireballs GC seek to defend their individual and team titles from last year. The Fireballs won last year’s title at Valderrama in a team playoff against Crushers GC, who finished third the previous year jili live slot. Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers will aim to match the LIV Golf record of four consecutive team wins set by 4Aces GC during the inaugural 2022 season. The Crushers moved to the top of the season-long team standings with their dominant 11-shot victory in Dallas; they also clinched victories in the previous two tournaments held in Korea and Virginia. Patrick Reed of 4Aces GC won his first individual LIV Golf title in Dallas, triumphing in a four-man playoff that included Paul Casey (Crushers), Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC), and Jinichiro Kozuma (Iron Heads GC). Four Spanish natives are included in the 54-man field – Garcia and his Fireballs teammates David Puig and the recently signed Josele Ballester, alongside Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner and the 2024 LIV Golf Individual Champion. Latin star Joaquin Niemann from Chile currently leads the individual points standings with four victories in the first nine tournaments this season. Andalucía serves as the final LIV Golf tournament before next week’s Open Championship, where 19 players from the league will compete at Royal Portrush.

More:  How to Watch Dodgers vs. Twins: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 22

LEGENDARY VALDERRAMA

Spanish-born Sergio Garcia, the captain of Fireballs GC, calls Real Club Valderrama “my favorite course in the world.” With four professional tournament wins at Valderrama, including his breakthrough LIV Golf individual playoff in 2024, it’s no surprise that a smile graces his face when he discusses the course.

The 45-year-old Garcia is thrilled to return to Valderrama for this week’s LIV Golf Andalucía. “It’s super special,” Garcia expressed. “Not only for me but for all of us because of how much Valderrama means to everyone, to Europe, and all the incredible moments that have taken place on this golf course.” Last year was remarkable for both Garcia and his Fireballs, as they swept both trophies via playoff – a unique instance in LIV Golf’s history where a tournament resulted in a double playoff for both individual and team titles.

“It’s been great to me,” Garcia stated. Sergio Garcia reacts after capturing the win in Spain last year.

Garcia is not the only Spanish-born captain in LIV Golf. Jon Rahm, captain of Legion XIII, also relishes the opportunity to return to his home country to play Valderrama, which was 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 remarked. 777pub ccc “It’s something we all grew up aspiring to play.” Cleeks Golf Club Captain Martin Kaymer, who was born in Germany but now resides in the Sotogrande area that includes Valderrama, has come close multiple times in his professional career to lifting a trophy there. “It’s 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, and that I can perform well on. It’s just a matter of time, hopefully.”

More:  How to Watch Angels vs. White Sox: TV Channel & Live Stream - August 3

CHASING THE RECORD

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC have clinched the last three LIV Golf team titles and seek a fourth straight trophy at LIV Golf Andalucía. A victory at Valderrama would tie the LIV Golf record for the longest win streak by either a team or individual.

LIV GOLF WIN STREAKS

  1. 4 – 4Aces GC (2022 Portland/Bedminster/Boston/Chicago)
  2. 3 – Crushers GC (2025 Korea/Virginia/Dallas)
  3. 3 – Fireballs GC (2025 Adelaide/Hong Kong/Singapore)
  4. 2 – Ripper GC (2024 Adelaide/Singapore)
  5. 2 – Crushers GC (2024 Jeddah/Hong Kong)
  6. 2 – Torque GC (2023 DC/Andalucía)

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC aim for a record-tying fourth consecutive trophy this week ph888 casino login.

ABOUT THE COURSE

REAL CLUB VALDERRAMA

San Roque, Cádiz, Spain
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,010
Meters: 6,410

Ranked among the top courses in the world, Real Club Valderrama has hosted numerous professional events, including LIV Golf Andalucía in 2023 and 2024, as well as the 1997 Ryder Cup – the first time the event was held in Continental Europe. Valderrama was initially designed by renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones in 1974, and Jones returned to work on the course when Jaime Ortiz-Patiño purchased it in the mid-1980s. Valderrama is often referred to as the “Augusta of Europe” due to its championship pedigree and superb maintenance. The golf club is one of two in Europe to receive the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Certification for its commitment to conserving and restoring natural ecosystems. The course will feature four par-4 holes under 400 yards; the longest par 3 measures 225 yards, the longest par 4 is 490 yards, and the longest par 5 is 564 yards. The memorable 564-yard par-5 fourth hole, known as La Cascada, features a pond to the right of a two-tiered green, while the 536-yard par-5 17th offers a natural amphitheater for fans.

Sergio Garcia (2024) and Talor Gooch (2023) have secured individual LIV Golf titles at Valderrama, while Fireballs GC (2024) and Torque GC (2023) boast team victories. In 2024, the toughest hole was the par-4 18th with a stroke average of 4.340; the easiest hole was the par-5 11th (4.716). The 212-yard par-3 12th was the hardest hole in 2023 and the second-hardest in 2024. Green types include Bermuda Tifway 419 on fairways and rough, along with T1 Creeping Bentgrass on greens. Fireworks mark the start of the final day of LIV Golf Andalucia in 2024.

More:  UEFA Women's Euro 2025: England Stages Dramatic Comeback To Beat Sweden In Penalties

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Bogey Avoidance: More crucial than birdie rate. The average top-5 finisher at this course made 2.75 bogeys per round compared to 4.25 for other players finishing in the top 50.

Finding Fairways: Distance value is the lowest all season, averaging just +0.11 per hole. 55bmw online casino login register There’s also a severe penalty for missing the fairway, with an average of +0 peso63.40. Players will likely only use the driver 6 to 7 times at most.

Inside 150 Yards: Players will face 52% of their approach shots this week with wedges from inside 150 yards, compared to the season average of 32.5%.

Lag Putting: Due to the high penalty for missing greens, players focus on the middle and larger parts of the greens rather than aiming directly for flags. Consequently, longer lag first putts become more significant.

This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.

Want great stories delivered directly to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams, and players to receive a personalized daily newsletter!

What are your thoughts on Sergio Garcia’s chances this week?

“`