Genesis Invitational. Riviera Country Club. Tiger Woods.
Does it get any better than that?
The PGA Tour’s third signature event of the season is here and a loaded field has made its way to Los Angeles, including the tournament host.
Woods last played at the PNC Championship in December, after finishing 18th at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. His last official Tour start came at the Masters last April.
More: Tiger Woods hires new caddie
The 15-time major champion will be joined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa.
Reigning champion Jon Rahm is not in L.A. to defend his title thanks to his recent move to LIV Golf.
Golf course
Riviera Country Club | Par 71 | 7,322 yards
Course history
Course history at Riviera Country Club for the @TheGenesisInv going back to 2016.
-Includes average finish position and Strokes Gained per round in each category. Players are sorted by SG: Total.
-3rd (out of 44) most predictive annual course on Tour.
Get all of my analysis,… pic.twitter.com/5TFtje5pOT
— Ron Klos (@PGASplits101) February 12, 2024
Previous event results (WM Phoenix Open)
Justin Thomas (10/1): T-12
Sam Burns (20/1): T-3
Min Woo Lee (28/1): T-71
J.T. Poston (30/1): Cut
Beau Hossler (50/1): T-41
Close call with Burns, but the year of underdog winners continues. Does that end at Riviera? I’m sure the Tour would like one of its stars to shake Tiger’s hand Sunday afternoon.
Odds
Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
Scottie Scheffler | (+650) | Jordan Spieth | (+2500) |
Rory McIlroy | (+1000) | Adam Scott | (+2500) |
Viktor Hovland | (+1400) | Tony Finau | (+3000) |
Xander Schauffele | (+1600) | Tommy Fleetwood | (+3000) |
Justin Thomas | (+1600) | Cameron Young | (+3000) |
Collin Morikawa | (+1600) | Sahith Theegala | (+3500) |
Patrick Cantlay | (+1800) | Matt Fitzpatrick | (+3500) |
Max Homa | (+1800) | Wyndham Clark | (+4000) |
Sam Burns | (+2000) | Will Zalatoris | (+4000) |
Ludvig Aberg | (+2000) | Tom Kim | (+4500) |
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Justin Thomas (16/1)
Guess who’s officially chasing a Justin Thomas win?
This guy.
Thomas had a few slow rounds to end the WM Phoenix Open, but still tied for 12th. Going back a little further, Thomas tied for sixth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am and for third at the American Express.
In his last six starts at Riviera, Thomas has finished inside the top 10 three times (runner-up in 2019) and 20th last season.
Ludvig Aberg (20/1)
Long and straight off the tee. That’ll play everywhere, but especially at Riviera.
Aberg, after a few disappointing starts to begin 2024, has finished T-9 at the Farmers Insurance Open and 2nd at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am in his last two starts.
This will be his debut in LA.
Cameron Young (30/1)
It’s about time Cameron Young gets his first win on Tour.
After a few tough finishes to begin his year, Young tied for eighth at the WM Phoenix Open.
The former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year has enjoyed his time at Riviera, making two starts and finishing 20th in 2023 and second in 2022.
Sahith Theegala (35/1)
This year has been a bit of a mixed bag for Theegala.
He missed the cut at the Sony Open and tied for 64th at the Farmers Insurance Open, but on the other hand he was the runner-up at The Sentry, tied for 20th at Pebble Beach and grabbed solo fifth at the WM Phoenix Open.
At last year’s Genesis, Theegala finished sixth.
Tiger Woods (Top 40, -110)
When Tiger Woods is in the field, he has to go on the card somewhere. It’s the right thing to do.
Do I think he’s gonna win? No. But do I think he’ll tough out making it to the weekend? Of course I do.
Let’s do the damn thing, GOAT.