The Genesis Invitational Golf Betting Preview

The Genesis Invitational Golf Betting Preview

Cole Paganelli
2 years ago
3 min read
Max Homa, the eventual winner of last year's Genesis Invitational putts on the fourteenth green as Tony Final and caddie Mark Urbanek look on.

The PGA Tour makes its final stop in its West Coast Swing at the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, CA. Formerly known as the Los Angeles Open, the tournament was first played in 1926 at the Los Angeles Country Club. Riviera has hosted the tournament on a near-continuous basis since 1973.

Burbank, California-native Max Homa defeated Tony Finau in a playoff last year to claim his second PGA Tour triumph. Sam Burns finished one-shot behind the Homa and Finau for a solo third. Cam Smith was three shots back, finishing fourth, and there was a trio of players that finished four shy of the victor.

The Genesis Invitational is an elevated tournament on Tour gives its small but star-studded field. With the elevated status, the purse reached $12 million, with $2.16 million going to the winner. The champion also receives 550 FedEx Cup points, 50 more than the standard PGA Tour tournament.

The Riviera Country Club

Tucked in a California valley, the Riviera Country Club is one of the best golf courses in the United States. The Riv was designed by George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell and opened its doors in 1926. The course has had the fortune of hosting three major championships and is the future host of the 2028 Olympic golf competition. 

Riviera is a thinking course and a favorite amongst Tour pros for its difficulty. The cut line for the tournament typically sits over par. 

The Genesis Invitational Field

All ten of the top players in the Official World Golf Rankings are preparing to tee it up on Thursday. The field for the Genesis is a reduced number of players, with only 120 players competing in the tournament.

The World No. 1, Jon Rahm, and current FedEx Cup leader, Hideki Matsuyama, will battle the likes of Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy for the title. The tournament has a solid list of sponsor exemptions, with Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters, and Robert MacIntyre highlighting the group.

Joining Homa in the field as past champions in this event are Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson. Aaron Beverly makes his PGA Tournament debut as recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, an award given out to a payer who represents the advancement of diversity in the sport of golf.

Betting Trends & Preview

There are some historical trends heading into the tournament that might help a bettor make his selections. Ten of the last 11 winners of the Invitational played in either the Pebble Beach Pro-Am or Phoenix Open prior to the Genesis. Only two of the previous ten winners missed the cut in their past event prior to teeing it up Riviera. 

The odds board is packed with the top players in the world, headlined by Rahm (+800) as the pre-tournament favorite. Cantlay (+1000) follows up Rahm, fresh off a solo second at the WM Phoenix Open after losing to Scottie Scheffler on the third playoff hole.

Remaining Top Ten

Justin Thomas (+1400)

Collin Morikawa (+1600)

Dustin Johnson (+1600)

Hideki Matsuyama (+1800)

Rory McIlroy (+2000)

Scottie Scheffler (+2200)

Cameron Smith (+2200)

Defending champion Homa can be grabbed pre-tournament at +5000.

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