LIV GOLF ADELAIDE POWER RANKINGS: 5 PLAYERS, 4 TEAMS

The question is whether that will translate for the team’s first-ever victory.

At 6,946 yards, the par-72 Grange ­– a composite layout that essentially utilizes the back nines of the East and West courses (save for one hole) – will not require a big power game. The course is fairly tight and the 2-1/2 inch rough should be a factor.

On the other hand, depending on the setup, there may be as many as three drivable par 4s (the 4th, 8th and 18th holes) that will provide opportunities for those able to add a bit of muscle.

Solid putters should have a successful week at The Grange. That’s good news for Smith, who ranks second in the LIV Golf League in putting behind Iron Heads GC captain Kevin Na. It’s also good news for the Rippers, who rank tied for first (with Fireballs GC) as a team in putting.

Of course, not everything goes as planned. It’ll be fascinating to see how things play out Down Under this week.

5 PLAYERS

1. CAMERON SMITH (Ripper GC). Wish his recent results could inspire more confidence, but it’s difficult to ignore Australia’s best golfer and one of golf’s best putters playing with a purpose in his home country.

2. PATRICK REED (4Aces GC). Tied for third in Orlando, then tied for fourth at the Masters. Just feel like he’s on the verge of closing in on his first LIV Golf title.

3. ABRAHAM ANCER (Fireballs GC). His best points finish this season is 17th, so maybe not an obvious pick. But he has prior success in Australia, having won the 2018 Aussie Open. And a little birdie told me this course is suited for him.

4. PETER UIHLEIN (4Aces GC). Three top-10 point finishes this season and was 10 under in the final two rounds at Orlando, best in the field in that stretch.

5. BROOKS KOEPKA (Smash GC). Based purely on form, he should really be the top pick – a win in LIV Golf Orlando, a T2 at the Masters. The only worry here is a post-major hangover.

OTHERS CONSIDERED: HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson comes off a spectacular finish at the Masters and hopes to ride that momentum … Matthew Wolff has been Smash GC’s most consistent performer, and he’s among the League’s top putters … Fireballs GC’s Carlos Ortiz has not finished worse than ninth in points this season … Two-time Australian Open winner Matt Jones could be the under-the-radar Ripper to emerge on Sunday.

4 TEAMS

1. 4ACES GC. They haven’t won this season, and they’ve never won outside the U.S. And yet there they are, atop the points standings after three events and with the lowest cumulative stroke average (69.3). Meet the perfect team to play spoiler this week in front of the pro-Ripper crowd.

2. RIPPER GC. They want it bad. But do they want it too much? The expectations are sky-high, but so are the off-course demands. Captain Cameron Smith said he and his Aussie teammates will need to make sure and manage their time in order to properly prepare. If they pull it off? The party will be epic.

3. SMASH GC. Brooks Koepka & Co. were disappointed to finish as runners-up in Orlando, and Chase will improve on his individual performance.

4. TORQUE GC. Newcomers Sebastian Munoz and Mito Pereira have produced four top-8 point finishes for the Orlando winners. Captain Joaquin Niemann hasn’t yet reached full speed, so the team still has an extra gear or two.

OTHERS CONSIDERED: HyFlyers GC has three veteran players who can adapt quickly to unfamiliar courses … Stinger GC is the “other” all-Southern Hemisphere team and has finished fourth in all three starts this year.

FULL SEASON POWER RANKINGS: Teams | Individual