LIV Golf returns to screens for the first time in six weeks this weekend, with three days of action going down at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Only two events remain in the calendar for the season after the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago 2023, making this tournament as crucial as ever in deciding the final standings.
Cameron Smith heads to Chicago as both the defending champion and the hottest player on tour. With two wins from the past three events, can the Australian grab another win here and build an unassailable lead over the rest of the field? Or will the mercurial Talor Gooch bring his A-game this weekend and take things down to the wire in 2023?
We break down the best bets ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago 2023 with the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 22nd, 1:00 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright betting odds, it’s no surprise that Cameron Smith sits top of the pack. Bookmaker William Hill has the Australian paying a low 8.00, well ahead of his closest rival Bryson Dechambeau, who is at 12.00. Behind these two, Dustin Johnson—runner-up at this venue in 2022—pays 13.00, ahead of Patrick Reed on 15.00. A four-way tie for fifth favourite rounds out the betting odds, with Brooks Koepka, Talor Gooch, Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira all paying 17.00.
Odds for a top five finish see these names take something of a reshuffle, with Smith still leading at 2.50 and Dechambeau second on 3.60. Niemann bunny hops into third on 3.60, while Dean Burmester joins a five-way tie for fourth favourite at 3.75 alongside Gooch, Reed and Johnson.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 22nd, 1:00 A.M. (GMT)
It’s tough to get past a bet on Cameron Smith here, simply because of how good the Aussie is playing right now and how well he navigated this course in 2022. The only question is whether or not Smith’s odds of 8.00 are justified. Considering that Dustin Johnson came runner-up here last year, is the American worthy of being 5.00 behind Smith in the odds? Johnson could be worth a bet—but it would be a risk, considering he’s only won once this season and has finished outside the top 10 in his last two starts.
Another wager worth considering is Talor Gooch. Past form is somewhat irrelevant, due to the American’s all on or all off nature. Gooch has the most wins in LIV Golf this year with three, however outside of these, he’s failed to make a top 10 placement. With that said, he’s also failed to go more than three events in a row without winning a tournamen, and Chicago will mark his fourth tournament since winning Andalucia, so there’s that. Overall, we say Smith is the safest bet still, but those chasing a higher return should go with Gooch.
