The formula is simple this week for the RangeGoats Golf Club: lean on who got you here and get some much-needed help from the rest of the team. Should that happen, watch out.
The RangeGoats GC is looking to chew up the course at Rich Harvest Farms at LIV Golf Chicago, a familiar setting for all after last season’s inaugural event. The team remains mathematically alive for one of the top four seeds that will receive first-round byes and currently sits at No. 5 in the standings with two events remaining.
How consistent have the RangeGoats been? It is the only team this season with points finishes (top 8) in each of first 11 tournaments. And while consistency is great, they will need more than that to make a jump into the top four of the team standings.
Talor Gooch has been a force on LIV Golf this season with three wins, and teammate Harner Varner III has an individual victory as well. Gooch leads all players in par-4 scoring (36 under) and the team is tied for the league lead in greens in regulation (69.78%).
But to get over the hump, the challenge will be to get captain Bubba Watson and newcomer Thomas Pieters on the birdie train and add more counting scores.
Watson is 35th in the individual points standings and Pieters is 36th. Perhaps the five-week break allowed for some rest, dedicated practice and a return to form this week. And a look into the numbers shows that Watson and Pieters aren’t far off. Watson has a scoring average of 70.2 and Pieters’ is 69.8. Also, Watson is coming off a 24th-place finish at LIV Golf Bedminster, his best finish in his last five events.
Should Watson and Pieters find a groove, the RangeGoats GC will be a serious contender for the team championship at the season-ending LIV Golf Miami.