LIV Golf: Top stars DeChambeau, Koepka, Ancer and Reed set for debut in Portland as new captains announced

Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau

By Matt Smith
LIV Golf has announced the global field of players and the 12 team captains that will tee off at the second tournament of the season, the LIV Golf Invitational Portland, taking place June 30-July 2 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon.

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Among the headline players making their LIV Golf debuts are four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka, 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, 2018 Masters champion and Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, and international sensation and current world No. 20 Abraham Ancer. Pat Perez, a fan favourite who boasts 74 top-10 finishes including four professional wins, and Yuki Inamori, a four-time winner on Japanese tours with 39 top-10 finishes as a pro, also make their bows.

Three weeks after LIV Golf’s historic launch at Centurion Club in London, the Portland field will showcase nine of the last 21 major winners, four former world No. 1 players and nearly half of its competitors currently ranked in the top 100. The global field represents 12 different countries and a combined 20 major titles, as well as future stars of the game who earned an NCAA National Championship, US Amateur Championships and professional tour wins among their accomplishments. Players will compete for $25 million and the chance to become the second individual and team champions for LIV Golf.

Charl Schwartzel, Hennie Du Plessis and Branden Grace on the podium in London

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Players confirmed for the LIV Golf Invitational Portland

Abraham Ancer, MEX, Rank: 20, Three professional wins
Richard Bland, ENG, 69, Two career wins
Itthipat Buranatanyarat, THA, 607, Three wins on the Asian Development Tour
Laurie Canter, ENG, 122, One professional win
Bryson DeChambeau, USA, 30, Major champion; 10 professional wins
Hennie Du Plessis, RSA, 134, Three professional wins; runner-up at LIV Golf Invitational London
Sergio Garcia, ESP, 59, Major champion; 36 career victories
Talor Gooch, USA, 39 Two professional wins
Branden Grace, RSA, 125, 14 professional wins
Justin Harding, RSA, 114, 11 professional wins
Sam Horsfield, ENG, 77, Three professional wins
Yuki Inamori, JPN, 106, Four professional wins
Dustin Johnson, USA, 16, Former World No. 1; Two-time major champion
Matt Jones, AUS, 72, Four professional wins
Sadom Kaewkanjana, THA, 119, Former Asian Tour Order of Merit leader (2 wins)
Martin Kaymer, GER, 224, Former World No. 1; Two-time major champion
Phachara Khongwatmai, THA, 136, Youngest player to win pro event (2013)
Sihwan Kim, USA, 137, Two Asian Tour wins
Ryosuke Kinoshita, JPN, 91, Three professional wins
Brooks Koepka, USA, 19, Former World No. 1; Four-time major champion
Chase Koepka, USA, 1,607, Six professional top-10 finishes
Jinichiro Kozuma, JPN, 109, Two professional wins
Graeme McDowell, NIR, 372, Major champion; 16 victories
Phil Mickelson, USA, 83, six-time major champion; World Golf Hall of Fame
Jediah Morgan, AUS, 251, 2021-22 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
Kevin Na, USA, 34, Nine professional victories
Shaun Norris, RSA, 76, 12 professional wins
Louis Oosthuizen, RSA, 23, Major champion; 20 professional wins
Wade Ormsby, AUS, 285, Four professional wins
Adrian Otaegui, ESP, 169, Three professional wins
Pat Perez, USA, 170, Four professional wins; 74 top-10 finishes
Turk Pettit, USA, 615, 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Champion
James Piot, USA, 1,785, 2021 US Amateur Champion
Ian Poulter, ENG, 98, 19 professional victories; former World No. 5
Patrick Reed, USA, 38, Major champion; Nine professional wins
Charl Schwartzel, RSA, 123, Major champion; LIV Golf Invitational London winner
Travis Smyth, AUS, 405, International Series Order of Merit Qualifier
Ian Snyman, RSA, 379, International Series Order of Merit Qualifier
Hudson Swafford, USA, 96, Four professional wins; 12 top 10 finishes
Hideto Tanihara, JPN, 183, 16 professional victories
Peter Uihlein, USA, 329, Former No. 1 Amateur; Four professional wins
Scott Vincent, ZIM, 92, Four professional wins
Lee Westwood, ENG, 85, Former World No. 1; 44 professional wins
Bernd Wiesberger, AUT, 97, 13 professional victories
Blake Windred, AUS, 269, Earned first professional win in 2021
The final three players will be announced in the coming days

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Greg’s delight

“Coming off our successful launch in London, we take another leap forward with our strengthened field for Portland,” said Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf. “Record-setting champions, global ambassadors and rising stars are showing that players are eager to get involved with our innovative model that stresses camaraderie, competition, and above all, fun, that drives a new and entertaining product for today’s golf fans. The response after one event has been overwhelming. Free agency has officially come to golf. I’m proud of this field and our entire team that is committed to creating a new and exciting future for this sport.”

The 48-man field in Portland will play across 12 teams of four players each. Teams for Portland will be announced on Tuesday, June 28 following a draft during which team captains will select players from the field.

The team captains announced for the Portland Invitational

Stinger GC — Louis Oosthuizen
Crushers GC — Bryson DeChambeau
Majesticks GC — Lee Westwood
Torque GC — Hideto Tanihara
4 Aces GC — Dustin Johnson
Cleeks GC — Martin Kaymer
Punch GC — Wade Ormsby
Niblicks GC — Graeme McDowell
Smash GC — Brooks Koepka
Hy Flyers GC — Phil Mickelson
Fireballs GC — Sergio Garcia
Iron Heads GC — Kevin Na

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel earned first prize in the individual competition at the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London at Centurion Club. Stinger GC, Schwartzel’s team captained by major champion Louis Oosthuizen, took the team honours with fellow South Africans and teammates Hennie du Plessis and Branden Grace finishing second and third, respectively. The Stingers finished with a total score of 20-under, besting the second-place competition by 14 strokes.