The first LIV Golf tournament to take place in Australia – LIV Golf Adelaide – starts on Friday morning at 2:15am UK Time.

Here's our look ahead to the 54-hole showpiece at the Grange Golf Club where home-hope Cam Smith will be eager to please the Aussies in attendance. 

A sell-out crowd is waiting to greet the players at LIV Golf Adelaide and they will be hoping that one of the four Australians in the field manages to contend.

Team Ripper comprises Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Jediah Morgan – a quartet of Aussies who are desperate to put on a show for their compatriots in the gallery.

Smith, former world number two and reigning Open champion, is the man who the locals will be pinning most of their hopes on. The Brisbane boy slipped outside the top five of the world rankings last week, but remains by far the highest-ranked player on LIV's books.

Smith can be backed at 10/1 to feed off the home support and claim his second LIV Golf title. He won the LIV Golf Chicago event in just his second LIV appearance, but has suffered a significant form dip since then, with LIV form figures of 42-22-6-26-29.

Smith missed the cut in the Saudi International in February and tied for 34th place in the Masters last time out, so it is a long time since he was seen at his brilliant best. His supporters will be hoping a return home – and the chance to tackle the sort of course he grew up playing – will revive his fortunes.

Leishman led going into the final round of LIV Golf Tucson in March, but a miserable final-round 77 saw him spectacularly blow his chance of a maiden LIV triumph. Leishman though, like Smith, is proven on the type of track the players will face this week at Grange Golf Club. Leishman is 28/1 to take the trophy. 

Standard each-way terms of a quarter the odds the first five places are available for LIV Golf Adelaide, with alternative options in the Each Way Extra section, including the increasingly popular fifth the odds, first eight.

LIV Golf Adelaide course details

A composite course comprising holes from the East and West courses at Grange Golf Club will be used for this tournament. It will measure 6,946 yards, with a par of 72 – four par-fives, ten par-fours and four par-threes. Greg Norman renovated the East course in 2012, attempting to mirror the legendary tracks on the Melbourne sandbelt. 

Healthy rough has been growing on both the East and West from February onwards. This firm and fast test suits excellent wedge players and those with magic hands on and around the greens. 

Sunny and pleasant weather is forecast, with temperatures peaking at 23C, and light breezes throughout. The field of 48 are competing for $4m first prize.

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LIV Golf Adelaide three to follow

Patrick Reed

The Sunday of the 2019 Presidents Cup will live long in the memory of Patrick Reed. Struggling alongside Webb Simpson over the first three days of the competition, Reed failed to win a point for his side, getting relentless abuse from the home fans at Royal Melbourne. 

In the singles, though, he produced a barnstorming performance to help his team win the Cup.

Reed has returned to Australia this week as a 16/1 chance in tremendous form, having finished fourth in the Masters last time out, and the feisty Texan will expect to contend.

Abraham Ancer

Accurate Mexican Abraham Ancer can be backed at 20/1 for victory this week in a country he loves to visit. 

Ancer won the 2018 Australian Open by five shots and played a leading role for the Internationals in the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Ancer ended the Presidents Cup as joint top scorer, losing only to Tiger Woods in the singles.

Phil Mickelson

The 55/1 about legendary left-hander Phil Mickelson may catch the eye of many punters in the wake of his amazing Masters effort. 

The 52-year-old finished tied for second place, getting his sparkle back, and is relishing the chance to tackle a firm, fast Aussie layout which lends itself to those blessed with magic touch.

bet365 News Team

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