The Masters is a week away and several Augusta National hopefuls will put the finishing touches to their Major preparations this weekend as the LIV Golf League stops off at Trump National Doral Golf Club for the fifth event of the 2025 season.
Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann both take high rank in the betting for the Masters and they are fighting it out for favouritism in south Florida, with Rahm at 6/1 and Niemann, a winner of two LIV titles already this year, on offer at 13/2.
Doral’s infamous Blue Monster is one of the best-known venues on the rebel circuit, having staged a number of PGA Tour events over the years before taking over as host venue for the season-ending LIV Team Championship in 2022 and 2023.
An intimidating 7,701-yard par-72 layout, Doral staged a regulation LIV tournament for the first time last year when big-hitting South African Dean Burmester defeated Sergio Garcia in a playoff. Given the course’s sheer length, it pays to be long off the tee this week.
LIV Golf Miami Betting Tips
- Outright winner – David Puig @ 18/1 with bet365
- Outright winner – Dean Burmester @ 20/1 with bet365
- Outright winner – Adrian Meronk @ 45/1 with bet365
Powerful Puig should contend again
Both Rahm and Niemann have the power to handle Doral and should again be competitive but, as was the case with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour a week ago, their main aim will be to be primed for the Masters.
Instead, preference is for the shortest-priced competitor who is not qualified for the Masters, David Puig, who should be fully focused on claiming a maiden LIV Golf victory in Miami.
Puig was only 39th in LIV Miami last year, but the 23-year-old Spaniard has impressed over the last 12 months and particularly in recent starts, chalking up seven top-six finishes from his last 12 worldwide appearances.
Part of Niemann’s Torque team, Puig is long enough to handle Doral and he will tee it up this week brimming with confidence. He is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour and should soon become a LIV Golf champion.
LIV Golf Miami Betting Tip 1: Outright winner – David Puig @ 18/1 with bet365
Back Burmester for a repeat success
Like Puig, Dean Burmester has not qualified for the Masters and the lack of a distraction can help him mount a bold title defence at Doral.
One of the longest drivers in the game and a superb putter when the flat-stick is firing on all cylinders, Burmester has never been the most consistent performer, but he’s a danger under the right conditions and a long track like Doral plays to his strengths.
The 35-year-old has threatened on more than one occasion this year, finishing fourth in the LIV season opener in Riyadh then a runner-up behind Sergio Garcia in Hong Kong, closing with a third-round 62.
LIV Golf Miami Betting Tip 2: Outright winner – Dean Burmester @ 20/1 with bet365
Meronk could double LIV title tally
Adrian Meronk broke his LIV Golf duck in Riyadh in February, beating Jon Rahm by two shots to bank a $4million winners cheque, and there could be more to come from the Polish powerhouse this week.
Meronk was a respectable 17th at Doral last year when still finding his feet on the LIV Tour, then he finished runner-up in Houston in June, edging close to a maiden LIV victory.
Following his breakthrough in February, his form cooled slightly in Australia and Asia before an encouraging sixth-placed finish in an Asian Tour event in Macau at the end of last month.
LIV Golf Miami Betting Tip 3: Outright winner – Adrian Meronk @ 45/1 with bet365
