The first round of LIV Golf UK takes place on Thursday and each member of the 57-player field will be hoping to get off to a quick start at the JCB Golf and Country Club.
A total of 15 LIV players were at Royal Birkdale for last week's 154th Open Championship and they now make the trip from Southport to Uttoxeter for the 10th event of the breakaway tour’s season.
This is the third year in a row that the JCB has hosted LIV UK, with Jon Rahm claiming the spoils in 2024 before Joaquin Niemann secured a three-shot victory in 2025.
Thursday's shotgun start is scheduled for 13:15 BST, with the same time in operation for Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's action begins 10 minutes earlier at 13:05.
LIV Golf UK First-Round Leader Tips Summary
Best Bet - Branden Grace each-way @ 30/1
Alternative Bet - Tyrrell Hatton each-way @ 14/1
Alternative Bet - Thomas Detry each-way @ 25/1
LIV Golf UK First-Round Leader Prediction
Best Bet: Branden Grace each-way @ 30/1
South African Branden Grace has had a few weeks to prepare for this UK trip, having last been seen at the Italian Open in June, and he looks capable of setting the early pace in Rocester.
The 38-year-old did exactly that at the JCB Golf and Country Club last year, opening with a score of 66 to share the first-round lead with Niemann.
With the undulating fairways and elevation changes at this course, distance control and accuracy on approach are required and Grace is fifth in greens in regulation on the LIV circuit.
Even when the nine DP World Tour winner misses the greens, he manages to get up-and-down with regularity, evidenced by his position of first in scrambling.
Grace was just one shot off the pace after the opening 18 holes in South Africa back in March, and the fact he will be fresher than others in the field makes him a standout pick in the first-round leader betting.
Alternative Bet: Tyrrell Hatton each-way @ 14/1
One of the 15 LIV players competing at last week's Open Championship was Tyrrell Hatton, who ended the tournament tied 69th after carding rounds of 69, 68, 74 and 74.
The 34-year-old will be disappointed with his weekend performance, having been in the mix at the halfway stage, and he will be desperate to get off to a flyer in Uttoxeter.
Hatton won the last LIV event in Andalucia, where he opened up with a round of 67 to sit at the summit after day one alongside Zimbabwean Scott Vincent.
The Englishman also started off strongly in Virginia in May, sitting tied second after the first 18 holes, while he was in a share of fourth after day one at the JCB in 2024 and just two strokes off the pace the following year.
Alternative Bet: Thomas Detry each-way @ 25/1
Thomas Detry also makes the trip from Royal Birkdale to the JCB following his tied-40th effort at the Open and he will be back in his comfort zone in the smaller LIV fields.
The Belgian has enjoyed a strong debut season on the breakaway tour, posting a runner-up finish in Hong Kong along with three top-five results and two top 10s.
Detry is joint fourth in total birdies, making 167, and that ability to make things happen on the course and post low numbers makes him a real threat in the 18-hole markets.
The 33-year-old was tied for the lead after day one on his first LIV appearance in Riyadh and it would be no surprise to see him make a quick start on Thursday.
Key Tournament Stats
This will be the third year in a row LIV Golf UK has been held at the JCB Golf and Country Club
Jon Rahm shot an eight-under par 63 to lead after round one in 2024
Joaquin Niemann, Adrian Meronk and Branden Grace shared the first-round lead in 2025, after carding scores of 66
Rahm can seal his third consecutive Individual Championship with a win this week
Rahm's Legion XIII have won the previous two LIV Golf UK team titles
Niemann, Rahm, Talor Gooch and Cameron Smith are the only players who have finished in the top 10 in both trips to the JCB
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
