4. STINGER GC
At LIV Golf Dallas, Stinger GC charged on Sunday, shooting 5-under as a team to finish in 4th place on the team leaderboard, narrowly missing out on their first podium finish since LIV Golf Hong Kong. The team was led by a resurgent performance from their captain, Louis Oosthuizen, who finished T2 after coming up short in a four-man playoff won by Patrick Reed.
Oosthuizen’s revival comes at a perfect time for the Stingers. The South African is a great fit for Valderrama and finished T4 at LIV Golf Andalucía last season. Oosthuizen’s teammate, Dean Burmester, is slowly rounding into form, having finished T23 in Virginia and T18 in Dallas. If Burmester can build off those performances this week, he will form a formidable duo with Oosthuizen. Branden Grace, who’s struggled for most of the last two seasons, may also be finding some form. He finished T19 in Virginia and T26 and Dallas, where he gained 0.7 strokes per round on approach, his best performance in the category since LIV Golf Singapore in March. At a golf course that favors strategy and precision, I believe the Stingers can contend this week.
5. FIREBALLS GC
This may feel like a disrespectful spot in the power rankings for Fireballs GC, who are the defending champions, but their lack of recent form is difficult to ignore. After three straight victories in Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore, the Fireballs have missed out on a podium finish in five consecutive events. Sergio Garcia, who of course won this event last year, has struggled of late. His best finish since LIV Golf Miami in April (3rd) was a T25 finish at LIV Golf Dallas. Last week, the Fireballs captain missed the cut at the BMW International Open on the DP World Tour.
David Puig has certainly been a bright spot for the Fireballs. The 23-year-old finished T13 in Dallas after missing LIV Golf Virginia with an injury and finished T11 at the BMW international Open on the DP World Tour last week. Abraham Ancer was also extremely helpful in Dallas where he finished T16 and contended for most of the week before slipping down the leaderboard on Sunday.
With the question marks surrounding Garcia, even at his favorite course, and lackluster recent play from newly acquired Josele Ballester, the Fireballs will look to bounce back in Spain.
6. RIPPER GC
Since their win at LIV Golf Miami followed by a runner-up finish at LIV Golf Mexico City, Ripper GC has been on a relative cold streak, failing to finish better than 5th in the team standings in their last three events.
A bounce back week for Ripper GC could be in store at Valderrama if their captain, Cameron Smith, can find some of the form that made him one of the best players in the world over the past handful of seasons. Smith finished T6 at LIV Golf Andalucía last year and T12 the year before.
Lucas Herbert, who earned medalist honors at the West Lancashire Open Championship qualifier last week, should be a strong contender this week. The Australian is having a strong season and is looking to win his first LIV Golf individual title.
Marc Leishman , who won LIV Golf Miami earlier this year, finished T10 at Valderrama last season and enters the week having gained strokes on approach in six consecutive starts.