INDIVIDUALS

Group 1

Cameron Smith – Captain, Ripper GC

Smith has had a rough start to the 2025 season. He finished T25 in Riyadh despite a solid first round, and his strong start to the final round on home soil in Adelaide was spoiled by three bogeys over the final 11 holes to finish 30th. Hong Kong could be the spot where Smith turns things around, and he came agonizingly close to capturing his second LIV Golf trophy before falling to Ancer in the playoff.

Joaquin Niemann – Captain, Torque GC

Niemann rebounded from a T33 finish in Riyadh to win by three strokes in Adelaide, capturing his third LIV Golf trophy in the process. The Torque GC captain is fairly middle of the pack in driving accuracy, but he leads the league in GIR, which should serve him well in Hong Kong. Niemann used a 7-under 63 final round to surge to T4 in Hong Kong last season, which was highlighted by his ace on the par-3 eighth hole.

Honorable mentions: Bryson DeChambeau (Captain, Crushers GC – finished T6 in 2024), Jon Rahm (Captain, Legion XIII – finished T8 in 2024)

Group 2

Richard Bland – Cleeks GC

After finishing T40 in Riyadh, Bland bounced back with a solo fifth in Adelaide thanks to a 6-under 66 in the final round. The 52-year-old Englishman isn’t going to be driving long bombs at this stage of his career, but he’s been one of the most accurate golfers off the tee and ranks in the top-15 in putts per hole and scrambling. Bland finished T8 in last year’s tournament with scores of 66-68-66.

Abraham Ancer – Fireballs GC

Ancer’s victory in Hong Kong last year was in large part due to his strong play over the first two rounds of the tournament, carding scores of 63 and 62. A playoff was needed after he carded a 2-over 72 in the final round, but he was able to recover and beat out Smith and Casey on the first playoff hole. Ancer has a bit of momentum behind him as he’s coming off a T2 finish in Adelaide. He ranks in the top-20 in driving accuracy and distance, GIR and birdies made.

Honorable mentions: Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC – finished T15 in 2024), Bubba Watson (Captain, RangeGoats GC – finished T29 in 2024, but ranks T6 in driving accuracy in 2025).

Group 3

Henrik Stenson – Co-captain, Majesticks GC

Stenson has been LIV Golf’s most accurate golfer through two tournaments this season, and he also ranks T10 in GIR. Like co-captain Ian Poulter and Bland, Stenson doesn’t have a lot of power behind his drives, but his accuracy and savviness on the course should put him in position to repeat his performance from 2024 (T8).

Paul Casey – Crushers GC

Casey used a 4-under 64 final round to force a playoff with Ancer and Smith during LIV Golf Hong Kong in 2024, and Casey’s T2 finish is still his best finish during his time in the League. Casey spent all of last season near the top of the field in driving accuracy and GIR, and his improved putting this season could be the difference in the Englishman capturing his first LIV Golf trophy.

Honorable mentions: Ian Poulter (Co-captain, Majesticks GC – finished T8 in 2024), Kevin Na (Captain, Iron Heads GC – finished T6 in 2024).

Group 4

Patrick Reed – 4Aces GC

It’s a bit surprising to see Reed down in the fourth group given his victory at the 2024 Hong Kong Open and his prior success in the LIV Golf league. However, the 34-year-old American has finished T44-T37 through the first two LIV Golf tournaments, and even his memorable ace at The Watering Hole in Adelaide hasn’t masked what has otherwise been a disappointing start to the season. That said, a return to a course he has won at could be what Reed needs to turn his fortunes around.

Honorable mentions: Martin Kaymer (Captain, Cleeks GC – finished T21 in 2024), Chieh-Po Lee (Wild Card – ranks T6 in driving accuracy this season).