The PGA Tour kicks off its second straight designated event this week with the 2023 Genesis Invitational, leaving the weary among some of golf’s biggest stars with no rest. Organized by the Tiger Woods Foundation this year, the tournament will feature 19 of the top 20 official golfers in the world, including newly crowned world number 1 Scottie Scheffler and returning Woods.
After a successful title defense at the WM Phoenix Open, Scheffler will try to build on his spring from a season ago, when he had four wins in six tournaments. Standing in his way are many of the world’s best players, including Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy. These three players have continued to set themselves apart from the rest of the competition and should one of the Europeans join the winners’ circle at Riviera Country Club, Scheffler’s second reign will be short-lived.
Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau are looking to close the gap at the top of the game, all of whom have had plenty of success around the Pacific Palisades. Good friends Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth will aim to achieve the same stellar results in the Arizona desert. At the other end of the spectrum, Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris and Cameron Young are among the Americans looking to start their year with a great result in Los Angeles.
Information about the event
Case: Genesis Invitation 2023 | Events: 16-19 February
Location: The Riviera Country Club – Pacific Palisades, CA
Par: 71 | Mileage: 7.322 | Wallet: $20,000,000
2023 Genesis Invitational field, odds
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Jon Rahm (15/2): One year makes the difference. A season ago this time, Rahm’s short-game woes began rearing their ugly heads. Now his game around the green and his putting are probably his strengths. He remains the best golf ball driver in the world and, despite what the OWGR may say, the best player. The fiery Spaniard has racked up four trophies and eight top-15 finishes in 12 global starts since the start of the 2022 FedEx Cup Playoffs.
- Rory McIlroy (9-1)
- Scottie Scheffler (10-1): That seems a bit disrespectful. The world No. 1 has won five times in the last year and even if he doesn’t have his A-game, he still finds a way to be a factor. Scheffler has one win and one finish worse than T11 in his last nine starts. If he putts well, chances are he’ll win.
- Xander Shovel (16-1)
- Justin Thomas (16-1)
- Tony Finau (16-1)
- Max Homa (18-1): Death, Taxes and Homa in the State of California. Homa has won four of his six PGA Tour titles in his home state, with his biggest win to date coming at the event two years ago. Homa defeated Finau in a three-hole playoff and has since become a mainstay on the leaderboards. His performance at the Worlds Phoenix Open left a lot to be desired, but he is just two starts away from winning at Torrey Pines.
- Collin Morikawa (22-1)
- Patrick Cantlay (25-1): At the start of 2023, there was no bigger disappointment than Cantlay. World No. 5 has yet to sniff page one or two of a ranking despite visiting three historically comfortable venues. He has four top 20 finishes in his last five Genesis Invitational appearances and has often said that Riviera is his favorite golf course in the world.
- Victor Hovland (25-1)
- Sungjae Im (28-1)
- Cameron Young (28-1): The reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year may experience a bit of a dip in his sophomore year. Without a top-10 finish in his first five starts of the season, Young should be licking his chops when he returns to the Riviera. It was here last year that the casual golf fan became acquainted with his flowing swing and stoic presence. His short game was pathetic early in 2023, and as he continues to tinker with different putters, he can’t seem to find an answer.
Rick Gehman is joined by Patrick McDonald and Kyle Porter for a preview of the 2023 Genesis Invitational. Follow and listen to The First Cut Apple Podcasts And Spotify.
Expert tips for Genesis Invitational 2023
Who will win the Genesis Invitational and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine now to see the predicted rankings and best bets, all from the model that has nailed eight golf majors and is up over $8,300 since June 2020.