By Rahul Banerji
Viraj Madappa, the only Indian on the roster for LIV Golf’s inaugural Invitational Series in London, was drafted into Kevin Na’s Iron Heads on Tuesday.
And in news that has further roiled the golf establishment, the Telegraph of London reported that Bryson DeChambeau and Partick Reed were likely to be the next additions to the LIV Golf lineup.
The two PGA Tour stars would join the second of eight scheduled Invitational Series events to be played at the Pumpkin Ridge course in Portland, Oregon, from June 30 to July 2, the paper said.
The announcement to this effect was likely at the opening tournament of the series in London that gets under way on Thursday, the newspaper added.
DeChambeau, 2020 US Open champion, and 2018 Masters winner Reed are the latest to jump ship after Rickie Fowler’s name cropped up a day earlier.
On a day the organisers unveiled team names and logos for the eight-event series, Madappa was included in a team that bore a distinctly Asian look to it.
Joining American captain Na and Madappa in the Iron Heads GC line-up were Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana and Japanese veteran Hideto Tanihara.
Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, the two big-ticket draws on the LIV Golf roster, will lead the 4 Aces GC and Hy Flyers GC respectively.
While Johnson picked Shaun Norris, Oliver Bekker and Kevin Yuan, Mickelson opted for Justin Harding, Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, and fellow-American Chase Koepka.
The first LIV Golf Draft, finalised the 12 teams in the fray for the $25 million London Invitational which tees off on Thursday at Centurion Club.
Snake-style draft
Each team captain was given 54 seconds to make his selections at the draft, a snake-style format used by the NFL, based on players’ OWGR rankings that sees the order of selection reversed after every round.
“We are supercharging the game and turning it into the sport it’s destined to become,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman..
“Our new format, our new team component, and our diverse field of players is something golf has never seen,”
“I’m excited to watch these teams come to life and the new energy, camaraderie and competition they’ll bring to the player and fan experience.”
Establishing identities that reflect the sport’s history and “speak to the game’s future” according to the LIV GOlf website, teams featured slightly cheesy names and logos seeking to establish distinct identities.
Each team name was tagged with the GC or Golf Club suffix.
Captains and teams
4 Aces GC – Captain Dustin Johnson, Shaun Norris, Oliver Bekker and Kevin Yuan. (The slang name for golf’s greatest magic trick: the hole in one).
Cleeks GC – Captain Martin Kaymer, Pablo Larrazabal, J.C. Ritchie, Ian Snyman. (The cleek: the driving iron of its day, with a refined look and feel for fans of golf heritage).
Crushers GC – Captain Peter Uihlein, Richard Bland, Phachara Khongwatman, Travis Smyth (It’s about speed. It’s about power. It’s a shot that could shatter a ball on impact).
Fireballs GC – Captain Sergio Garcia, David Puig (A), James Piot (A), Jediah Morgan. (A fun and exciting identity which embodies golf at its wildest – and all for a team that will hope to be ‘on fire’ this week).
Hy Flyers GC – Captain Phil Mickelson, Justin Harding, Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, Chase Koepka. (A team in flight. Powered by its winged logo, this group hopes to soar above the competition).
Iron Heads GC – Captain Kevin Na, Sadom Kaewkanjana, Hideto Tanihara, Viraj Madappa. (All about metal and mettle, displaying a steely determination. A strong, bold identity).
Majesticks GC – Captain Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sam Horsfield, Laurie Canter. (The shot that stops you in your tracks and produces a perfect arc from club strike to preferred landing spot).
Niblicks GC – Captain Graeme McDowell, Bernd Wiesberger, Turk Petit, Oliver Fisher. (A reference to the rich history of Scotland, the birthplace of golf. A classic term for a short-nosed club of a bygone era).
Punch GC – Captain Wade Orsmby, Matt Jones. Ryosuke Kinoshita, Blake Windred. (Celebrating a timeless stroke).
Smach GC – Captain Sihwan Kim, Scott Vincent, Jinchiro Kozuma, Itthipat Buranatanyarat. (The crisp sound of club on ball. Your shot soaring through the sky on its way down the fairway. The smash factor).
Stinger GC – Captain Louis Oosthuizen, Hennie Du Plessis, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace. (A big weapon in golf — for those skilled enough to pull it off).
Torque GC – Captain Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, Adrian OtagueiAndy Ogletree. (A supercharged brand that’s all about forward momentum and speed off the tee).
At the conclusion of the draft, Kevin Na and Peter Uihlein decided to make LIV Golf’s first trade, swapping Richard Bland and Hideto Tanihara.
Also read: LIV onboards Lefty Mickelson, Rickie Fowler may follow soon
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