Steve Palmer's free LIV Golf Chicago predictions & golf betting tips

When to bet on LIV Golf Chicago

When to bet By 6.15pm on Friday (shotgun start)

Where can I watch LIV Golf Chicago

Live on DAZN and LIV Golf Plus app from 6.15pm on Friday

Steve Palmer's LIV Golf Chicago predictions

Bryson DeChambeau
4pts each-way 8-1 BoyleSports

David Puig
1.5pts each-way 40-1 general

Thomas Pieters
1pt each-way 66-1 general

Steve Palmer's LIV Golf Chicago preview

Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann will do battle for an $18m cheque this week, seeking to claim the LIV Golf season winner prize. Whoever tops the standings at the conclusion of LIV Golf Chicago will be even richer than they were before.

Rahm and Niemann may be tense and tetchy with so much on the line – and the fiery Hispanic duo could become frustrated with the conditions of Bolingbrook. It is one of the most basic venues which has been used on the LIV circuit.

Fellow hotheads Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed may also find themselves agitated at this humble municipal on the outskirts of Chicago.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Bryson DeChambeau 8-1

While Jon Rahm has dropped below Keegan Bradley in the world rankings and has been enduring a troubling time in his career since joining LIV, Bryson DeChambeau has been loving life. The US Open champion can make further gains by retaining his LIV Golf Chicago title on Sunday.

DeChambeau's form figures in Stateside Majors this year are a hugely impressive 6-2-1. He appears at the peak of his powers at the age of 30 and looks ready to destroy Bolingbrook over the next three days.

This course can be overwhelmed by long driving. LIV chiefs, probably panicking about the potential for ludicrously low scoring, made a late decision to convert two of the par-fives to par-fours. DeChambeau, who has a par-four which is in range for him, should make merry. The Californian slugger has a round of 58 to his name on the LIV circuit and could threaten something similar at Bolingbrook.

DeChambeau's US Amateur victory in 2015 came in Chicago, so he clearly likes this part of the States, and this increasingly cheerful character seems unlikely to be ruffled by the track. He tees up at lots of municipal courses when doing his popular YouTube work and there will be nothing snobbish about the way the Crushers captain approaches this week.

Next best bet

David Puig 40-1

Spanish youngster David Puig is a rising star of the sport who is well suited to this week's assignment. Bolingbrook is there to be attacked and Puig has the tools to go super-low. He made his debut in the 2022 LIV Chicago event, so has fond memories of this gathering.

Puig has looked like a champion in waiting in recent months. He was third in LIV Houston in June and has posted a top-15 finish in the last two LIV events. The 22-year-old has also greatly impressed on the Asian Tour.

Other selection

Thomas Pieters 66-1

Former University of Illinois star Thomas Pieters loves returning to this part of the world. He was a top-class amateur, turning pro in 2013 before winning six times on the DP World Tour. He starred in a Ryder Cup, finished fourth on his Masters debut, won a World Cup, then joined LIV last February.

Pieters' second-best LIV result of last year came in LIV Chicago. He was second in the Soudal Open on the DPWT in May this year, then brilliant over the weekend of LIV Greenbrier last time out. He is more emotionally invested than normal this week, teeing up in front of some old friends, and can make an impact at a juicy price.

Course guide for LIV Golf Chicago

• Course Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, Illinois
• Prize money $20m ($4m to the winner)
• Length 7,076 yards
• Par 70 – two par-fives, 12 par-fours, four par-threes
• Field 54 (no cut)
• Format 54 holes of strokeplay
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Bryson DeChambeau (10), Jon Rahm (14), Tyrrell Hatton (37), Brooks Koepka (62), Adrian Meronk (89)
• When to bet By 6.15pm on Friday (shotgun start)
• When to watch Live on DAZN and LIV Golf Plus app from 6.15pm on Friday
• Time difference Illinois is six hours behind the UK and Ireland
• Course type Parkland
• Course overview The inaugural LIV Chicago was staged at Rich Harvest Farms in 2022, staying at that venue last year, but the third edition has moved to Bolingbrook GC, designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest on the outskirts of Chicago. The course has lots of elevated tees, rolling fairways and seven lakes. Holes one and 12 are usually par-fives, but, fearing scoring could be embarrassingly low, LIV chiefs made a late decision to convert them to par-fours for this event. The 600-yard par-five 14th usually plays into the prevailing wind. The 342-yard 15th is a potentially driveable par-four. The 165-yard sixth hole is a par-three with an island green
• Story of last year Bryson DeChambeau closed with a 63 to win by a shot at Rich Harvest Farms
• Weather forecast A mixture of sunshine and cloud. Pleasant temperatures, with light to moderate breezes
• Type of player suited to the challenge This is a municipal course which costs less than $100 to play at peak rates. It looks extremely vulnerable to elite professionals and rounds in the low 60s should be commonplace this week. A powerhouse who is putting well can thrive
• Key attribute Touch/putting

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.

For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.