LIV Golf returns to JCB Golf & Country Club this week for LIV Golf UK, and for me, this is always one of the standout events of the season. It’s my favourite tournament on the LIV schedule, not just because it’s played here in the UK. This is genuinely one of the best all round golf courses in the UK, and it’s a perfect venue for entertaining tournament golf.
The only real storyline this week is the return of LIV’s main stars, with Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton all back teeing it up. Defending champion Joaquin Niemann returns looking to defend the title he won last year, while Rahm will also have strong aspirations this week having won here in 2024.
With the Individual Championship race beginning to take shape, every point is becoming increasingly valuable, and there’s plenty to play for over the coming weeks.
Although JCB has only been part of the LIV schedule since 2024, it has already established itself as one of the tour’s premier venues. The course has produced two worthy champions in Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, with both showcasing the aggressive yet controlled golf needed to succeed around this layout. Hopefully we’re in for another exciting week, and with such a strong field assembled, it promises to be one of the highlights of the LIV season once again.
JCB Golf & Country Club Course Preview
The JCB Golf & Country Club is a modern championship layout that has quickly become one of the standout venues on the LIV Golf schedule. Measuring around 7,301 yards and playing as a par 71, this is a course that offers plenty of scoring opportunities, but it also demands a high level of precision and distance control.
Having personally played the course, the biggest takeaway for me was that distance control with the irons is absolutely vital. There are plenty of holes where players will have realistic birdie chances, but finding the correct sections of the greens and controlling approach shots will be a major factor in determining who contends, and the previous leaderboards here highlight that too.
JCB is a course that rewards aggressive play, but only when that aggression is controlled. There is enough room off the tee for the bigger hitters to be confident with the driver, and players who can gain an advantage in distance will certainly have opportunities to attack.
However, there is danger waiting if players get too aggressive, with water hazards and strategically placed bunkers and awkward rough areas ready to punish loose shots. This isn’t a course where you need to play defensively, but it is one where smart decision making will separate the contenders from the rest of the field.
The course doesn’t necessarily favour one specific shot shape either. There are opportunities for both fades and draws, meaning I wouldn’t be overly concerned about a player’s preferred ball flight. Instead, I’m looking for golfers who are comfortable being aggressive, strike their irons consistently, and can put themselves into scoring positions throughout the week by controlling their distances.
The winning formula at JCB has generally been a strong all-round game. Jon Rahm won here in 2024, while Joaquín Niemann won in 2025, and both players share similar traits, with elite ball striking, the ability to create birdie chances and the confidence to attack when opportunities arise.
When building a team this week, I think there are multiple ways to approach it. You can target the elite ball strikers who consistently create opportunities, look towards the bigger hitters who can take advantage of the scoring holes, or find players who are comfortable on modern championship layouts.
Ultimately, I want players who can combine aggression with control, but the one major asset this week is good distance control, because JCB gives you chances to score but will punish anyone who gets reckless. This is for me the best tournament of the year on the LIV Golf calendar.
1. Tyrell Hatton (+850)
My number one selection this week is Tyrrell Hatton, and it’s probably no surprise to anyone who regularly reads my previews. I seem to back him almost every time he tees it up, but there’s good reason for that.
When Hatton is striking the ball well, I genuinely believe there aren’t many players in the world who are better from tee to green. His golf swing is technically outstanding, and the tiny fade he plays with both the driver and his irons is one of the most repeatable and controlled shots in the game.
It’s not just his long game that impresses me either. Around the greens, Hatton possesses an exceptional short game. His wedge action is incredibly repeatable, just straight back, straight through, always committed, and that allows him to control spin so well. Whether he’s attacking a tucked pin or playing a delicate recovery, he always looks in complete control of the ball.
If there is one thing holding him back, it’s his temperament. We’ve all seen how easily frustration can creep into his game, and at times it feels as though he’s fighting himself as much as the golf course. If he could just stay a little more patient and trust the quality of his game, I honestly think he’d have won considerably more tournaments by now.
With that said, I’m more than happy to side with him this week. Playing in the UK on a course that should reward elite ball striking and controlled iron play, Hatton looks to have all the tools required to contend. If he can keep his emotions in check over the four days, I think he has to be in the mix. Win only at the prices.
2. Joaquin Niemann (+800)
I’m not usually a fan of backing the defending champion, but Joaquin Niemann once again looks like an excellent fit for this course. The Chilean is simply a world class player when it comes to parkland golf, and JCB is exactly the type of layout where he tends to produce his best golf.
I’ve always felt there’s a clear contrast between Niemann’s performances on parkland courses and on links layouts. Links golf has never really looked like a natural fit for his game, and we’ve seen that reflected in his results. That’s not intended as criticism, it’s simply that every player has environments where they thrive. For Niemann, those tend to be modern parkland layouts where he can commit to his natural game and play with freedom.
His biggest strength is undoubtedly his ball striking. When Niemann finds his rhythm, he becomes one of the best birdie makers out there. He has that rare ability to hit one quality iron shot after another, and once the confidence starts flowing, he can overwhelm a golf course. The only downside is that when he loses that rhythm, he can look fairly ordinary by his own standards.
Niemann also prefers to play a controlled draw with a mid to high ball flight, something that has become slightly less common at the highest level. It’s a shot he trusts completely, and he very rarely strays away from it. That consistency works beautifully on courses like JCB, where confident ball striking and distance control are rewarded. It may also explain why links golf doesn’t always suit him, as those conditions often demand a greater variety of trajectories and shot shapes than he naturally likes to play.
For me, this is exactly the type of venue where Niemann should be considered one of the players to beat. He’s already shown that by winning here last year, and everything about his game suggests he can contend once again. Returning to a course that perfectly complements his strengths, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him right in the mix as he looks to successfully defend his title.
3. Jose Luis Ballester (+3500)
Jose Luis Ballester is another player I’ve decided to take a chance on this week, and I think he offers plenty of value. He’s still finding his feet as a professional, but there’s no questioning the level of talent he possesses. Ever since winning the US Amateur, Ballester has been regarded as one of Spain’s brightest prospects, and we’re now beginning to see why.
What I really like about Ballester is his mindset. He’s an attacking player by nature and is always looking to make birdies rather than simply avoid mistakes. On a course like JCB, where there are opportunities to score if you’re striking your irons well and committing to your shots, I think that style of golf can be rewarded. He’s not someone who plays with the handbrake on, and if he gets into a rhythm, he can produce some very low numbers.
Ballester’s also a player whose confidence appears to be growing with every start. As he’s become more comfortable in the professional ranks and with Fireballs GC, his performances have steadily improved.
Young players often need time to adjust, but Ballester looks to be thriving in the LIV environment, and that’s exactly what you want to see before backing someone at a bigger price.
Another positive is that he has already shown he can handle this venue. He produced a solid performance here last year finishing tied 7th with a final round of 65, so he’ll arrive with good memories of JCB and a better understanding of what the course demands.
Having that experience on a layout where distance control and commitment are so important can only be a positive.
Ultimately, this is a selection based on upside. Ballester is still learning, but I’d much rather side with an exciting player who isn’t afraid to attack, rather than the conservative sorts, because a low number will win this week.
If he continues the progress he’s shown over recent months, I think he has every chance of putting himself firmly in contention this week, and I’d be expecting to hear a lot more about this player in weeks and years to come.
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