The top three seeds have a bye into the semifinals of the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship, leaving the other 10 teams to determine the quarterfinal matchups in a draft on Thursday at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
A $50 million purse is on the line for the 13 teams in the event Friday through Sunday in the Dallas area. Top seed and defending team champion Crushers GC, second seed Legion XIII featuring individual champion Jon Rahm, and the all-Australian Ripper GC will be joined by Friday’s five winning squads in head-to-head matches on Saturday. The four winning teams on Saturday advance to 18 holes of stroke play on Sunday.
Brooks Koepka, captain of fourth-seeded Smash GC, had the first draft pick and could have chosen any of the nine other teams as its opponent. Koepka went with 13th-place Iron Heads GC.
“Just went from the bottom up,” Koepka said. “I think that’s the way we did it. I just felt like we’ve got a good chance. We’ll see what happens.”
When the draft was complete, the teams revealed their lineups for the quarterfinals of two singles and one foursome for their four players. Each of the three matches is worth one point.
Though this is the first time in the three-year history of the event that captains aren’t required to play singles, Koepka is holding to form and will face Kevin Na, captain of the Iron Heads.
Na said that’s what he expected.
“I thought about throwing a curveball in there, but I talked to the guys, and everybody actually wanted to play singles, which is a good sign,” Na said. “I think everybody wants to show what they can do and what they’re capable of.
“I know Brooks is obviously a tough opponent, going against a five-time major champion. But in match play, I’ve taken down some people in match play and I can make a few putts. Hopefully that happens.”
HyFlyers captain Phil Mickelson was among several captains to play in the foursome for their teams. Mickelson will partner with Brendan Steele against Torque GC, while teammates Andy Ogletree and Cameron Tringale are playing singles.
“Andy Ogletree won the ‘21 Amateur,” Mickelson explained. “He’s a very tough match-play competitor. Cam Tringale won all his matches last year. I wanted them both in singles. Steeley and I are really annoying to play against. I’m annoying, but when you put me and Steeley, it goes to another level, and I feel like that could be a challenge just dealing with that.”
Quarterfinals:
Smash GC vs. Iron Heads GC — Singles, Brooks Koepka (S) vs. Kevin Na (IH); Talor Gooch vs. Danny Lee. Foursome, Jason Kokrak/Graeme McDowell vs. Jinichiro Kozuma/Scott Vincent.
Torque GC vs. HyFlyers GC — Singles, Joaquin Niemann (T) vs. Andy Ogletree (HF); Sebastian Munoz vs. Cameron Tringale. Foursome, Mito Pereira/Carlos Ortiz vs. Phil Mickelson/Brendan Steele.
Fireballs GC vs. Majesticks GC — Singles, Eugenio Chacarra (F) vs. Henrik Stenson (M); David Puig vs. Ian Poulter. Foursome, Sergio Garcia/Abraham Ancer vs. Lee Westwood/Sam Horsfield.
Stinger GC vs Cleeks GC — Singles, Branden Grace (S) vs. Adrian Meronk (C); Dean Burmester vs. Kalle Samooja. Foursome, Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel vs. Martin Kaymer/Richard Bland.
RangeGoats GC vs. 4Aces GC: Singles, Peter Uihlein (RG) vs. Dustin Johnson (4A); Thomas Pieters vs. Patrick Reed. Foursome, Bubba Watson/Matthew Wolff vs. Harold Varner III/Pat Perez.
–Field Level Media