This week sees the tenth LIV Golf League event taking place in Andalucia. It is the first stop in Europe for the Saudi-backed league this season as the field take on the notoriously difficult Valderrama.

For 19 of those players, it will represent a final chance to get some competitive golf in before the Open Championship at Royal Portrush next week.

So far this season, 12 LIV Golfers played at the Masters, 15 took part in the PGA Championship and 14 were in the field for the US Open last month.

 

Indeed, this field of 19 LIV players is a record for the circuit at a major since the start of 2023. Several have major exemptions, while others have won the Open during their careers. A few even made it through final qualifying a couple of weeks ago.

Here is a list of every player from the LIV Golf League who is set to tee it up in Northern Ireland next week.

Lucas Herbert: Best finish at the Open – T15 (2022)

Herbert was one of the last players to secure their place at Royal Portrush. The Australian came through final qualifying at West Lancashire with a final total of -8.

His best result came at St Andrews three years ago, where he finished T15 in Scotland.

Lee Westwood: Best finish at the Open – Runner-up (2010)

Westwood hasn’t played in a major since this tournament in 2022, but he rolled back the years at Dundonald Links earlier this month.

 

Rounds of 70 and 67 saw him seal another major championship appearance. He couldn’t finally win one, could he?

Dean Burmester: Best finish at the Open – T11 (2022)

Like Herbert and Westwood, the South African made it through final qualifying to seal his place at the Open.

At Royal Cinque Ports, Burmester shot a 64 in the afternoon to finish on ten-under par for the day. This saw him lead the field by four shots.

Phil Mickelson: Best finish at the Open – Winner (2013)

Mickelson’s victory in 2013 was arguably one of the finest triumphs of his career. The week before, he won the Scottish Open, but not many fancied him to win at Muirfield.

He shot a final round 66 which sealed the Claret Jug, and his fifth major title. The American came close three years later, finishing second to a runaway Henrik Stenson at Royal Troon.

Louis Oosthuizen: Best finish at the Open – Winner (2010)

Oosthuizen claimed a remarkable victory in 2010 at St Andrews, streaking away from the field to win by seven strokes.

 

The South African also finished runner-up in 2015 and third in 2021. He finished T20 during his last appearance at Portrush.

Henrik Stenson: Best finish at the Open – Winner (2016)

Stenson delivered one of the best ever final rounds at a major championship to win the title in 2016.

He shot 63 at Troon in what was a thrilling Sunday climax alongside Mickelson, with the pair producing golf from the gods at times.

Cameron Smith: Best finish at the Open – Winner (2022)

The Australian trailed Rory McIlroy heading into the final day at St Andrews in 2022, but his 64 on Sunday meant he ended the day holding the Claret Jug.

Since then, Smith has managed just three top-tens across 11 major outings, including missing the cut in his previous four.

Jason Kokrak: Best finish at the Open – T28 (2021)

Kokrak secured a third-place finish at the Asian Tour’s International Series Macau and this serves as part of the Open qualifying series.

His best finish at the Open remains a T28 in 2021. Can he do better this year?

Joaquin Niemann: Best finish at the Open – T53 (2022)

Niemann has dominated the LIV Golf circuit this season. Across the first nine events, he has four wins and hasn’t finished lower than 33rd.

 

His record at the Open is questionable to say the least. In five previous appearances, he has yet to crack the top-50. This is something which could well change in 2025.

Tom McKibbin: Best finish at the Open – T66 (2024)

McKibbin has played in one previous Open, finishing T66 at Troon in 2024. The Northern Irishman made the move to LIV Golf earlier this year, joining Legion XIII.

A top-ten finish in last years Race To Dubai saw him seal a place at Portrush.

Marc Leishman: Best finish at the Open – Runner-up (2015)

Leishman came close to major glory in 2015 at St Andrews. In a three-man playoff, the Australian couldn’t get the better of Oosthuizen or Zach Johnson.

This will be his first Open appearance since 2022.

Carlos Ortiz: Best finish at the Open – Cut (2021)

The Mexican finished T4 at the US Open last month, marking his first top-five result in a major championship.

Ortiz sealed his spot next week via the Open Qualifying Series, winning the Asian Tour’s International Series Macau.

He missed the cut in his one and only appearance at the competition.

Patrick Reed: Best finish at the Open – Tenth (2019)

Reed finished third at the Masters in April, but it took a runner-up finish at the Open Qualifying Series tournament in Macau to seal his place this year.

In 2019 at Portrush, Reed finished tenth, his best ever finish at the final major of the year.

With a Ryder Cup spot being talked about, a big week in Northern Ireland would do is chances no harm at all.

Sergio Garcia: Best finish at the Open – Runner-up (2007 & 2014)

Garcia made it into the field by the skin of his teeth. Despite not winning any points at the LIV Golf Dallas event, he managed to hold on to fifth spot in the individual rankings to secure a spot.

 

This will be his 26th Open Championship at 45, does the Spaniard have one last major run in him?

Dustin Johnson: Best finish at the Open – Runner-up (2011)

Johnson has a decent record at the Open. He finished second behind Darren Clarke in 2011, while securing another four top-tens throughout his career.

This is the final major he is exempt into following the 2020 Masters win. Depending if he fancies qualifying next year, this could be his final Open.

Tyrrell Hatton: Best finish at the Open – T5 (2016)

Hatton’s World Ranking enabled him to secure a place in Portrush this week. Back in 2019, he finished T6 at the tournament, which will boost his confidence heading into the final major of 2025.

Hatton came close at the US Open last month, finishing T4 at Oakmont.

Jon Rahm: Best finish at the Open – Runner-up (2023)

Rahm has a space in the Open for the next few years due to his Masters win in 2023. The Spaniard has had a few close calls at the competition in the past.

He finished third in 2021, before securing a runners-up result two years later at Hoylake.

Brooks Koepka: Best finish at the Open – T4 (2019)

Koepka’s best finish at the tournament was a T4 back in 2019, the last time it was held at Portrush.

He might not be in that sort of form right now, but his game is trending in the right direction. The American finished T12 at the US Open, which was his best finish since winning the 2023 PGA Championship.

Bryson DeChambeau: Best finish at the Open – T8 (2022)

DeChambeau’s 2024 US Open victory means he is guaranteed a space at the Open. The American has only secured one top-ten finish at the tournament, coming in 2022 at St Andrews.

A T5 and runner-up at the Masters and PGA Championship this season means DeChambeau is coming close to securing a third major victory.