The Genesis Invitational Predictions, Picks & Odds

• Tiger Woods not only hosts - he’s also playing this week!
• Strong field assembled at Riviera Country Club
• The tournament is a good pointer for the Masters

The Genesis Invitational Odds

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The Genesis Invitational Picks and Predictions

• Tony Finau win at +1800 and top five at +350 with BetMGM
• Cameron Young top 20 at +160 with DraftKings 
• Thomas Detry top 40 at +175 with FanDuel Sportsbook

The Genesis Invitational Profile

Tiger Woods is back!

Yes, although 23 of the world’s top 25 ranked players are in the field, it is the sport’s greatest superstar who will be creating the headlines this week in Los Angeles.

His relationship with the tournament is an odd one, however. 

He made his PGA Tour debut in it 31 years ago and endured a catastrophic car accident leaving it two years ago.

Yet in between, he always struggled with the Riviera test and never won the event. In that, he isn’t alone because the equally great Jack Nicklaus also never conquered a tournament that was known as the Los Angeles Open when he played in it.

Despite that, the course has always dropped big hints about the first major championship of the year - the Masters at Augusta National.

In fact, 15 of the last 25 winners at Riviera have either won or finished second in the Masters (before or after their success in California).

Course Report

It’s the last week of the West Coast Swing and with it the last week of golf near the Pacific Ocean with Poa Annua grass on the greens.

That factor is important this week because players who perform well on this 7,322-yard par-71 tend to be proven on Poa in California.

But the grass in the rough matters too: it’s kikuyu, a sticky grain that is difficult to hit from which explains why course form also matters this week - some golfers can hit from it and others struggle.

The Favourites

The course record of Jon Rahm this week is a lot like it was last week because he’s played Riviera four times, has never finished outside the top 25 and has a best of fifth.

Last week in Phoenix he improved on the same best with an eight top-four finish in his last nine starts and it would be no surprise if he maintained that run this week but will it be with a win?

Rory McIlroy’s spell of golden form ended at TPC Scottsdale when he could only manage 32nd, the first non-top 10 finish in nine starts.

He’s landed five top-20s in six tournament starts with two top-five finishes - the Riviera test suits him better than last week’s examination.

Scottie Scheffler was superb last week when defending his WM Phoenix Open title, a result that saw him return to the top of the world rankings.

Should we expect a more difficult week, however? He finished seventh last year, his equal-best finish in nine starts on Poa in California (with four missed cuts).

Finau can Complete a Full Swing

This week Netflix is launching its new documentary series ‘Full Swing’ which features the stories of eight golfers on the PGA Tour.

Reviews indicate that the best episode tells the story of Tony Finau, already one of the most popular golfers in the game and destined for lots of love in the next few days and weeks.

Can he ride those waves of good feelings? I’d argue there is more than one reason to think yes.

First up, he has a fine course record with runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2021.

Secondly, there is his form elsewhere on Poa Annua in California which takes in runner-up spots at Silverado and Torrey Pines.

He also claimed victory on Poa in Detroit last year and has multiple top-10 finishes on it in major championships.

The clincher is that he’s in good nick in such conditions, posting ninth place in last month’s visit to Torrey Pines.

Back him at BetMGM. The win price of +1800 in an industry best and add a top-five saver at +350.

Old head on Young Shoulders 

We’ve had a lot of success with the top 20 and top 40 markets in 2023 - the latest success being Sam Burns’ top 20 in the WM Phoenix Open last week - so we’ll stick with that mode of attack in LA.

In 2023 Cameron Young played on Poa Annua in California twice, finishing 20th at Torrey Pines (an effort that included a brilliant third round 63 on the difficult South Course) and second here at Riviera.

Beyond that good news, he has a strong record on all Poa Annua courses, which tend to need a mature approach.

He won and finished second on it when playing the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour and he was also second on it in last summer’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.

In all he has nine top-20s in 16 starts.

He also has 11 top 20s finishes In 22 stroke play starts over the last 12 months.

Take him to record another with DraftKings offering +160 about a golfer as short as +120 elsewhere.

Stick With Detry

Belgium’s Thomas Detry has been among our successes in the top 40 market this year and he looks worth backing again this week.

He’s in his rookie season on the PGA Tour and his consistency has been impressive, landing seven top 40s in eight starts.

That tallies with his career record Stateside: he has 15 top 40s in 19 starts since his first venture there in 2019.

He’s also an excellent operator on Poa Annua: throughout hs career he’s 21-for-35 at landing top 40s on it but on Poa in California this season? 3-for-3.

The numbers are in our favour with FanDuel Sportsbook offering +175 for yet another top 40 this week.

How to Watch The Genesis Invitational

• Tournament: The Genesis Invitational
• Location: Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles, California
• Date: Thursday, February 16 - Sunday, February 19
• How to watch: Thursday-Friday 4-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), Saturday 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-7 p.m. (CBS). Sunday 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS). And all four days on Sky Sports and PGA TOUR Live.