If last year the LIV Golf Andalucía dazzled with many of the best players in the world offering a unique show at the Real Club Valderrama, this year’s event (July 12 to 14) promises to be even more spectacular thanks to the incorporation of another of the great planetary stars, Jon Rahm, to the multimillionaire circuit directed by Greg Norman.
The extraordinary greens and fairways of what is repeatedly considered the best golf course in continental Europe will once again be the setting for a vibrant tournament in which more than a dozen majors winners, former world number ones and other great figures of the highest international stature will compete.
Along with Rahm, stars such as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed, to name just a few of the majors winners who will be playing at the Real Club Valderrama this summer, will showcase their enormous talent at the 1997 Ryder Cup venue.
At stake is the glory of victory and prizes totaling $25 million in prize money, $4 million of which goes to the winner.
Let’s take a look at the credentials and opinions of some of the extraordinary players who will be playing at the Real Club Valderrama.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka is a powerhouse in the world of golf, with five Majors in his career. Koepka, a fan favorite and captain of Smash GC, has many “firsts.” He became the first active member of the LIV Golf League to hoist a Major trophy at the 2023 PGA Championship. He also became the first golfer to win back-to-back titles in two majors simultaneously, winning the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, as well as the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019. Brooks Koepka, a dominant force in golf, became No. 1 in the world in 2018 and remained at the top for 47 weeks. Koepka joined LIV Golf in June 2022.
Biggest influence on your golf career?
Tiger Woods and Adam Scott
Golfer you admire the most?
Adam Scott because he is very professional and well behaved.
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
St Andrews
Golf achievement you are most proud of?
My five majors
The round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
The round in which you win
Your perfect golf shot?
When you enter the hole
If you could acquire one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Bryson’s distance
What is the most difficult hit for you?
Draw with driver
The most interesting thing about being a professional golfer?
Traveling the world
Jon Rahm
The Spaniard has amassed 20 career victories, including the 2023 Masters, the 2021 U.S. Open and the DP World Tour Championship three times (2017, 2019, 2022). Rahm has played in three consecutive Ryder Cups, helping lead Team Europe to victory in 2018 and 2023.
Last year, Rahm won four times and also finished tied for second at the 151st Open Championship and tied for fifth at the DP World Tour Championship.
Biggest influence on your golf career?
My father
Golfer you admire the most?
Seve Ballesteros
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
Torrey Pines, Riviera, Pebble
Golf achievement you are most proud of?
Majors and my Ben Hogan awards
The round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
The last of the US Open 2021
Your perfect golf shot?
The one who goes and does what he/she is supposed to do.
If you could acquire one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Seve’s short game and charisma
What is the most difficult hit for you?
Draw high
The most interesting thing about being a professional golfer?
Travel
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson is a legendary name in golf and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame since 2012. Mickelson has taken home three NCAA individual championships and a team title at Arizona State University. In 1990, he won the U.S. Amateur event. Since turning professional in 1992, Mickelson has amassed 57 career victories, including six Majors, three of them at the Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010. Nicknamed “Lefty” because of his left-handed stroke, Mickelson won the PGA Championship in 2005, and won his second at Kiawah Island in 2021. With 20 starts in the Open Championship, Mickelson finally won the event in 2013. Mickelson has represented the U.S. in 12 Presidents Cups. He made his LIV Golf debut in 2022 and is captain of the LIV Golf HyFlyers GC team. Mickelson, who possesses one of the best short games in golf, has spent more than 25 years in the top 50 of the official world golf rankings and is a popular figure wherever he plays.
Biggest influence on your golf career?
My father
Golfer you admire the most?
Seve: style and talent
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
Friar’s Head
Golf achievement you are most proud of?
2013 British Open
Round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
The final rounds of the Masters
Your perfect golf shot?
Fade
If you could acquire one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Dustin’s drive
What is the most difficult hit for you?
Fade on uphill slope
The most interesting thing about being a professional golfer?
See world
Bryson DeChambeau
One of golf’s biggest stars, the American was a two-time individual winner in the LIV Golf League in 2023 (LIV Golf Greenbrier and LIV Golf Chicago) and captain of the winners of the 2023 Crushers GC Team Championship. DeChambeau also tied the record for lowest round in an elite men’s professional golf tournament with a 58 in the final round of The Greenbrier in 2023. DeChambeau has 10 other professional victories, including his first major at the 2020 U.S. Open. The Crushers GC captain has spent more than 140 weeks in the top 10 in the world and is a major attraction on the LIV Golf staff.
Biggest influence on your golf career?
My father, Mike Schy, Ben Hogan
Golfer you admire the most?
Ben Hogan for his persistence.
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
Cypress Point
Achievement you are most proud of?
U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, 58 strokes.
The round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
My 61-58 on LIV Golf Greenbrier weekend
Your perfect shot?
One that goes long and straight.
If you could acquire one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Tiger’s mentality on the course
The shot you find most difficult?
60-yard bunker exit
Most interesting thing about being a professional golfer
sionalgolfer?
The platform and impact you can have to help inspire others.
Dustin Johnson
The big-hitting Dustin Johnson is not only one of golf’s biggest stars, but has been a dominant force since joining LIV. The 4Aces GC captain has individual victories in all three of his LIV Golf seasons: 2024 Las Vegas, 2023 Tulsa and 2022 Boston. He was also named 2022 Individual Champion for the entire season by a comfortable margin. Prior to joining the LIV Golf League, Johnson won tournaments in 15 of his first 16 seasons as a professional, including two Majors: the 2016 U.S. Open and the 2020 Masters.
Biggest influence on your golf career?
My father and my trainer Allen Terrell
Golfer you admire the most?
Jack Nicklaus
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
Augusta National
Golf achievement you are most proud of?
My victory in the Masters
The round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
Sunday in Augusta
Your perfect golf shot?
Fade
If you could acquire one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Tiger’s iron game
What is the most difficult hit for you?
Draw
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is the captain of Ripper GC and earned the second individual victory of his LIV Golf career at LIV Golf London in 2023. Smith’s other victory came in his second opening round since joining the league in 2022 (Chicago). Smith, a winner of 11 other professional events, won five times on multiple tours in 2022. The Australian star joined the immortals when he fired a final round 64 to come from four strokes back and win the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews. Smith, who has represented Australia in several team events and won three Australian PGA championships, rose to a career-high No. 2 in the world.
Biggest influence on your golf career?
My father
Golfer you admire the most?
Adam Scott
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
Royal Melbourne and St Andrews
Golf achievement you are most proud of?
My victory in the British Open
The round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
The last of the 2022 British Open.
Your perfect golf shot?
Fade
If you could take one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Dustin Johnson’s drive
Which shot is the most difficult for you ?
Draw with long irons
The most interesting thing about being a professional golfer?
Travel and different cultures.
Sergio Garcia
One of the biggest names in golf and captain of Fireballs GC, the Spaniard is among the most talented and accomplished players of his generation. Winner of 36 tournaments worldwide, including the 2017 Masters, Garcia was No. 2 in the World Ranking and has spent more than 450 weeks in the top 10 of that ranking. A Ryder Cup specialist, he has represented Europe 10 times and his record of 28.5 points is higher than any other player.
The biggest influence on your career?
My father
Golfer you admire the most?
Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal
If you could play on any field in the world, which one would it be?
Valderrama
Golf achievement you are most proud of?
2017 Masters and all Ryder Cups
Round of golf you have enjoyed the most?
The last of the 1999 PGA Championship
Your perfect golf shot?
The one that comes out exactly as I picture it in my mind.
If you could acquire one trait from another golfer, what would it be?
Jon Rahm’s putt
What gives you the most trouble?
Putt
The most interesting thing about being a professional golfer?
Doing what you love and being able to help people because of it.
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