Welcome to Power Rankings, a weekly feature on SI Golf from our partners at KeyCompete. This week the LIV Golf shifts to the Middle East for its event in Jeddah, where all eyes are on Anthony Kim and his stunning return to pro golf.
LIV Golf Jeddah 2024 Preview: Anthony Kim's Comeback and an Elite Field
Hosted at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, the course was designed to reward creativity and precision. But this week the narrative centers around Anthony Kim's return to the sport. Once among golf's brightest stars, Kim's journey back into the competitive fold after a lengthy hiatus is a storyline filled with hope and intrigue. He once electrified the golf world. Could he someday do so again? Maybe, but our model says not this week. Here are the players our model likes:
KeyCompete’s 2024 LIV Jeddah Power Rankings
1) Brooks Koepka (+1000): He’s not the favorite in the books, but he’s our top pick. Looking for a three-peat here.
2) Jon Rahm (+500): Aggressive play and greenside precision will serve him well here.
3) Dustin Johnson (+1000): A resume filled with consistent top-level performances. Recent winner of LIV Las Vegas.
4) Bryson DeChambeau (+1400): Strategy and power make him a fascinating contender in Jeddah.
5) Joaquin Niemann (+1100): The young star from Chile, with his blend of finesse and power, is a dark horse.
6) Talor Gooch (+1200): Still flashing the well-rounded game that propelled him last year. LIV Individual champion in 2023.
7) Sergio Garcia (+2200): Ballstriking and short game travel anywhere, including here.
8) Tyrrell Hatton (+1200): Like Sergio, a blend of passion and precision.
9) Cameron Smith (+1600): Exceptional short game and laid-back demeanor are a good match here.
10) Louis Oosthuizen (+2500): Silky swing and big-moment experience could see him outperform expectations.
About the Last LIV Event
The 2024 LIV Golf Las Vegas event, with Super Bowl weekend as a backdrop, concluded with Dustin Johnson securing a victory, further cementing his status as one of the game's premier talents.
KeyCompete had a nice week with PGA Tour picks last week going 6-2 with one draw. We also nailed our Johnson pre-tournament pick for LIV Las Vegas.