An early look at next week's Genesis Invitational at Riviera from Niall Lyons.
Tiger Woods will make his season debut at the Genesis Invitational in California.
Genesis Invitational Field
The third of eight designated events on tour this season sees the top 50 from last year’s FedEx Cup gain a guaranteed invite. Other criteria will see the players list rise to between 70-80 players.
Not many will turn down the chance to play this event, especially now Tiger Woods has announced his return and will tee it up as well as providing host duties for the week.
Currently stuck on 15, Tiger Woods has been given just a 2.4% chance of winning a major in 2024 according to best odds of 40/1 on Sky Bet.
For Niall’s PGA Tour tips for this week’s event, click here.
Genesis Invitational Course - Riviera Country Club
Undoubtedly the one thing that pops up when looking for winners and contenders at Riviera Country Club is previous form around Augusta National.
Rahm (2023), Scott (2020 & 2005), Watson (2018, 2016 & 2014), Johnson (2017) Mickelson (2009 & 2008), Weir (2004 & 2003), Faldo (1997) and Stadler (1996) are just some of the winners here who have also won the Masters.
Runners up at the Masters Ernie Els, Len Mattiace and Chip Beck have also managed wins around here so ignore Augusta form at your peril.
Last week’s early look for the WM Phoenix Open can be found here.
Genesis Invitational Winners (Winning Score)
- 2023 - Jon Rahm (-17)
- 2022 - Joaquin Niemann (-19)
- 2021 - Max Homa (-12)
- 2020 - Adam Scott (-11)
- 2019 - JB Holmes (-14)
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Genesis Invitational Players & Key Stats
| 2023 Genesis Invitational | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | OTT | APP | ATG | T2G | PUTT | DD | DA | GIR | SCR |
| Rahm | 1 | 28 | 1 | 40 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 63 | 2 | 50 |
| Homa | 2 | 42 | 16 | 33 | 24 | 1 | 18 | 44 | 58 | 9 |
| Cantlay | 3 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
| Zalatoris | 4 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 24 | 1 | 38 | 8 | 12 |
| Mitchell | 5 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 2 | 29 | 29 | 6 |
| 2022 Genesis Invitational | ||||||||||
| Name | Position | OTT | APP | ATG | T2G | PUTT | DD | DA | GIR | SCR |
| Niemann | 1 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 64 | 58 | 14 | 10 |
| Morikawa | 2 | 7 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 1 |
| Young | 2 | 2 | 9 | 60 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Hovland | 4 | 19 | 3 | 61 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 54 | 5 | 28 |
| Scott | 4 | 26 | 4 | 72 | 17 | 2 | 31 | 54 | 8 | 36 |
| 2021 Genesis Invitational | ||||||||||
| Name | Position | OTT | APP | ATG | T2G | PUTT | DD | DA | GIR | SCR |
| Homa | 1 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 59 | 3 | 5 | 24 |
| Finau | 2 | 9 | 4 | 23 | 1 | 18 | 36 | 21 | 4 | 20 |
| Burns | 3 | 54 | 3 | 37 | 11 | 4 | 67 | 60 | 16 | 4 |
| Smith | 4 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 38 | 21 | 27 | 14 |
| Fitzpatrick | 5 | 23 | 27 | 3 | 12 | 22 | 61 | 11 | 51 | 18 |
| Hovland | 5 | 1 | 13 | 48 | 7 | 32 | 7 | 21 | 10 | 1 |
| Rahm | 5 | 7 | 8 | 30 | 4 | 44 | 10 | 27 | 1 | 57 |
| 2020 Genesis Invitational | ||||||||||
| Name | Position | OTT | APP | ATG | T2G | PUTT | DD | DA | GIR | SCR |
| Scott | 1 | 17 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 27 | 15 | 63 | 1 | 46 |
| Brown | 2 | 28 | 32 | 25 | 25 | 4 | 58 | 3 | 34 | 16 |
| Kang | 2 | 66 | 1 | 50 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 67 | 9 | 56 |
| Kuchar | 2 | 46 | 48 | 18 | 41 | 2 | 65 | 28 | 15 | 8 |
| Dahmen | 5 | 14 | 35 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 43 | 16 | 51 | 2 |
| DeChambeau | 5 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 57 | 3 | 28 | 5 | 18 |
| Homa | 5 | 20 | 14 | 35 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 3 | 42 |
| Matsuyama | 5 | 1 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 63 | 13 | 28 | 9 | 35 |
| McIlroy | 5 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 44 | 19 | 57 | 15 | 3 |
It is no surprise that Augusta form marries up here with the importance on a solid tee to green game, specifically on approach play and around the greens. Each of the last two winners here, Rahm and Niemann, have both topped the strokes gained approach stat for the week.
In terms of work around the green the leader in that department for the week, or the runner up has finished inside the top five each of the last four years. Driving distance helps, but being average length off the tee is no disadvantage.
However, winners like Rahm, Niemann, Watson, DJ and Holmes down the years certainly suggests it will be a slugger to come out on top.
Of the 26 golfers who have made the frame down these last four years only six have finished outside the top 20 in GIR for the week. The long game is all important at Riviera and it'll pay to concentrate on those who make their gains from tee to green.
