LIV Golf Mayakoba Predictions, Odds: Joaquin Niemann Tops Impressive Field

Check out our picks for LIV Golf's season-opening event in Mayakoba based on the best golf odds.

The LIV Golf season begins at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mayakoba, Mexico, and the opening tournament has a sneaky strong field and a unique team dynamic. Here are our top picks and predictions for the LIV Golf Mayakoba event based on the best golf odds.

This is an opportunistic season debut for the LIV circuit with an underwhelming PGA Tour field playing the Honda Classic at the daunting PGA National Resort this week. In fact, the collection of LIV players is superior (at least based on name recognition), and if viewers are looking for birdies and low scores, they’ll definitely want to tune into the action at El Camaleon over the grind at PGA National.

When turning our attention to El Camaleon, the conversation has to begin with the fact LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman designed the unique track. It requires low scores to contend and sets up as a short, second-shot course.

The betting favorites in the individual tournament this week are Joaquin Niemann and Dustin Johnson, and the frontrunners are rounded out with reigning Open Champion Cameron Smith, Abraham Ancer, recent recruit Thomas Pieters, and Patrick Reed.

Check out our top LIV Golf Mayakoba picks as we preview the tournament and assess the odds from our best sportsbooks.

LIV Golf Mayakoba picks

  • Joaquin Niemann (+850 via Caesars)
  • Mito Pereira (+2000 via DraftKings)
  • Marc Leishman (+5000 via Caesars)

LIV Golf Mayakoba odds

Player DraftKings Caesars
Dustin Johnson +800 +800
Joaquin Niemann +800 ❄️ +850 🔥
Cameron Smith +1000 +1000
Abraham Ancer +1100 🔥 +1000 ❄️
Paul Casey +1600 🔥 +1500 ❄️
Thomas Pieters +1600 +1600
Sergio Garcia +1600 ❄️ +1800 🔥
Talor Gooch +1800 +1800
Patrick Reed +1800 +1800
Matthew Wolff +2000 +2000
Mito Pereira +2000 🔥 +1600 ❄️
Brooks Koepka +2200 +2200

LIV Golf Mayakoba picks and predictions

Joaquin Niemann (+850 via Caesars)

The 24-year-old Chilean finished fifth in the PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba in November 2021, and he ranks among the top tee-to-green players in this field. Niemann has three top-five finishes through four LIV events, and he also took down an impressive field at the PGA Tour's 2022 Genesis Invitational for his marquee win to date.

Add consecutive top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour to start 2023, and I expect Niemann to be in contention all week at El Camaleon. Finally, while it’s a small edge, landing the +850 odds via Caesars presents a positive expected value of 5% over the +800 available through DraftKings.

Mito Pereira (+2000 via DraftKings)

This is a perfect layout for Pereira. He was pacing the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach and SG: tee-to-green and respectively finished ninth and 16th in the metrics last season. Pereira is also one of the few in this event who’s been playing competitively regularly and having success – something I’m placing particular value in this week.

It’s important to note he’s trading as low as +1600 through Caesars, so there’s a positive expected value of 24% with the +2000 number via DraftKings.

Marc Leishman (+5000 via Caesars)

This will be Leishman’s third professional trip to El Camaleon, and while his track record at the venue doesn’t jump off the page, he did post a T-6 result in his most recent start on the Asian Tour. He has 13 worldwide wins, including six on the PGA Tour, and I view this as a long number for a well-rounded player with Leishman’s resume.

He also had a bounce-back showing last year and ranked 33rd on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total. DraftKings is listing Leishman at +4500, so there’s a positive expected value of 12% attached to the +5000 odds through Caesars.

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Here are our best sportsbooks:

Check out our best sportsbooks for golf betting.

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages