The Genesis Invitational 2022
The Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, California
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| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,322 |
| Par: | 71 (35-36) |
| Greens: | Poa annua; 7,500 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12.5′. |
| Rough: | Kikuyugrass at 2″. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards: | 58/0 (no water on the course). |
| Architect(s): | George C. Thomas (1927); Coore and Crenshaw; Tom Fazio. |
| Purse: | $12 million ($2.16 winner) plus 550 FedExCup points. |
| Defending Champion: | Max Homa (-12; playoff). |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | Bubba Watson (2014, 2016, 2018) Adam Scott (2005, 2020). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (since 2000): | 267; Dustin Johnson (2017); Mike Weir (2004; not entered). |
| Course Record (property): Course Record (redesign): | 61; Ted Tryba (1999); George Archer (1983). |
| Youngest Winners: | 24; Pat Fitzsimmons (1975). |
| Oldest Winner: | 43; Steve Stricker (2010). |
| Fact of the Week: | 5 Masters winners this century. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Only two international winners since 2006 (Aaron Baddeley, Adam Scott). |
| Fact of the Week III: | Last European winner was Nick Faldo in 1997. |
| Final Fact of the Week: | Last NINE winners 30 or older. |
Notes:
- Field of 121.
- Top 65 and ties play the final two rounds.
- Invitational status in 2020.
2021-2022 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| Fortinet Championship | Max Homa |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Sam Burns |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Sungjae Im |
| CJ CUP @ SUMMIT | Rory McIlroy |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Hideki Matsuyama |
| Bermuda Championship | Lucas Herbert (first TOUR win) |
| Mayakoba Championship | Viktor Hovland |
| Hewlett Packard Houston Open | Jason Kokrak |
| The RSM Classic | Talor Gooch (first TOUR win) |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Cameron Smith |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Hideki Matsuyama (2) |
| The American Express | Hudson Swafford |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Luke List (first TOUR win) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | Tom Hoge (first TOUR win) |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler (first TOUR win) |
Check out HORSES FOR COURSES for more details on those who play well here.
Event Winners:
| Year/Player/Score * – Playoff | Notes |
| 2021 Max Homa (-12)* | Closed with 66 and beat Tony Finau in a playoff. |
| 2020 Adam Scott (-11) | Aussie wins officially for the first time here as he held off a group including Matt Kuchar by two shots. |
| 2019 JB Holmes (-14) | Trailed by four after 54 holes before winning by a shot as Justin Thomas closed with 75. |
| 2018 Bubba Watson (-12) | Outdueled Patrick Cantlay in the final group to win by two and pick up his THIRD VICTORY here. |
| 2017 Dustin Johnson (-17) | Posted 17-under after 54 holes and slept walked to a FIVE SHOT victory. |
| 2016 Bubba Watson (-15) | Played with DJ in the final group, shot 68 and defeated Scott and Jason Kokrak by one for his second win. |
| 2015 James Hahn (-5)* | Defeated Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey in a playoff. |
Last Time – WM Phoenix Open
Thoughts on Chalk (My plays will be obvious)
Jon Rahm (+750):Not getting fooled again! Rode him as the favorite on his favorite course on TOUR and that didn’t work. He’s never finished better than T5 here but he should be in contention weekly. No value here, as usual! Ho Hum another top 10! Imagine if he puts it all together for 72 holes!
Justin Thomas (+1200): Ran out with Rahm after 36 holes at Torrey last time out before fading to T20. All the tools, just like Rahm, and has never cashed worse than T17 in five weekends. T8 and closed with 66.
Patrick Cantlay (+1400): I’m losing track of how many consecutive top 10s he’s accumulated and I probably can’t count that high. Desert dawg at TPC Summerlin shouldn’t hurt either as he makes his debut. LOVES desert golf! Lost in a playoff and a “new track” doesn’t seem to bother him much.
Hideki Matsuyama (+1600): All systems go. Winning is the expectation and ZOZO and Sony show there’s no hangover. Unlike Torrey Pines, he eats and eats well here. 3 way action. T8 cashes Top 10 and T20 activity. I’ll take the L as he didn’t win.
Viktor Hovland (+1600): His last five starts worldwide have cashed three wins, T4 and T30. The optimist says no-brainer as the last two in the Middle East were WIN-T4. The pessimist says T30 on big Bermuda greens at Kapalua is odd. This week no elevation changes and the greens aren’t as tricky. MC.
Jordan Spieth (+2000): Ice broke here last year as he led the field in SG: Approach and posted 61 in Round 3. Couldn’t close the deal on Sunday (T4) but he’s back for the third consecutive season. He’s cashed in three of five, all for top 10s. We all know how close he went last week! Top 10 again. Nope, LOSS, T60.
Xander Schauffele (+2200): I like his course form more than his recent results. Last top 10 might have been a gold medal last summer. No need to force it. I patiently waited…T3.
Daniel Berger (+2500): WD as defending champion last week caught my attention. No news is good news but I’m going to let him settle back in. Did you see what I did there? Settle BACK in? I kill me! MC.
Scottie Scheffler (+2500): First time winners the last two weeks and he’s not in that conversation! Sat 15-under thru 54 last year (T7) so he’s acclimated quickly. Fits the profile of long and strong. Top 10. I’d say Top 10! WINNER! 62 on Saturday backed up by 67 on Sunday and his first win on TOUR!
33-1 or Worse Select Opinions
Brooks Koepka (+3300): Here we are again EXCEPT that he’s the defending champion and one of two multiple winners in the field. He won last year rolling in MC-MC-MC. He got his attention with the blonde hair at Torrey but also picked up MC. Is that the kick start he needed? Should see plenty of action at this number including a skinny win ticket from me! T3 as he was right in it until the final holes. Good leap if you made it!
Sam Burns (+3300): Opened with 64 last year before T22 in his third visit. I’d think he would have the game plan in mind by now. Top 10. MC. LOSS.
Bubba Watson (+4000): Could have gotten an even TASTIER price if he wouldn’t have almost won in Saudi Arabia last week! Definite course horse. T14 Giddy up!
Louis Oosthuizen (+4000): He should be healthy. SHOULD be. He was. T14.
Russell Henley (+4000): Either he’s overrated here or they’re hoping to lose him in the jet wash of the bigger names. He misses the cut every other year here and this the year for MC! Watch out! T33 feels like MC if you played.
Webb Simpson (+4000): Complete reflection of his recent results. Only two top 10s since May. Careful. Pre tournament WD. Warning heeded.
Matt Fitzpatrick (+4000): Yes, please, top 10, top 20. T10 cashes two more tickets!
Luke List (+5000): I don’t like guys after their first win but you gotta do you. He was BOILING hot before but the letdown after the life changing moment is quite natural. T53 c’est la vie.
Adam Scott (+5000): Just ripped off a nice pair in the Middle East. Maybe Riviera next week. T38
Keith Mitchell (+6600): T12-MC-T7-T12 last four. Back to Bermuda as well. Damn, another top 10 to add to that stack. Maybe I was too early at Sony!
Si Woo Kim (+8000): Loves the Cali desert and T11/T11 last two on TOUR. Nice 67 to close for T26, playing really well.
Funny Money
Denny McCarthy (+10000): Big targets and a fantastic putter playing great. Even – MC.
Brian Harman (+12500): 6 straight none in the top 20 but he’s back for more and so am I! T14 with all four rounds 70 or better to break his streak!
Carlos Ortiz (+15000): Led the field in Par-Breakers last year and closed with 65. If he’s healthy, you gotta price here. T33 as he proves you just can’t have a round over par here and contend. Nice 1-2 on 16 and 17 Sunday!
Branden Grace (+15000): Two trips, solo second and T9. Get in! GET OUT with 72-72 weekend for T49.
Doug Ghim (+20000): Cashed 7 straight on TOUR. EIGHT.
Adam Schenk (+35000): Top 20. Please respect my privacy at this time. Whatever got him at Torrey Pines he took with him to Scottsdale!
Wesley Bryan (+40000): Top 40. Along with Schenk and Hadley were three of the WORST five on the week! Hahahahaha!
Chesson Hadley (+50000): Top 40. Nope. Not close.
This Week – The Genesis Invitational
I love Riviera.
Love it.
All 14 clubs. Work it both ways. Elevation changes. Big greens. Tough chipping. Impossible fairways to hit. Proper grind with easy Par-5 holes. Kikuyugrass that only South Africans enjoy. Poa annua greens that only Californians and Aussies enjoy. Big field 16 of the top 20 and all of the top 11. MASSIVE PURSE will get the attention of everyone. 3 year exemption. $2 million plus for first. Extra 50 FedExCup points for the winner.
Kids don’t win here. It’s for the adults this week.
But the last three winners on TOUR have been first-timers so let’s see what trend holds!
It’s Los Angeles. It’s glitzy AF. So is this event.
Good luck.
Thoughts on Chalk (My plays will be obvious)
Jon Rahm (+900):You’ll know when I’m ready (again) to pull the trigger. Simply no value in this field at that number or for any of the markets.
Patrick Cantlay (+1200): Looks like he’s on autopilot. So few mistakes and mentally ice cold. Won at Sherwood up the street in 2020 fall.
Dustin Johnson (+1600): Just pounds top 10s here annually and I wouldn’t expect anything less this week. Sneeky/Cheeky play this week on his favorite track but he hasn’t won since the Autumn Masters in 2020.
Justin Thomas (+1600): He’s usually in 6th gear by now but every year is different. Signs of life at WMPO as he back-doored a top 10 with 66 on Sunday. Should have won here in 2019 but blew a four shot lead.
Cameron Smith (+2000): T4-MC-WIN in three events in 2022 doesn’t chase me away. Fantastic bag and fantastic form suggests he’ll be lurking again this week. Top 10 to back up his T4 last year.
Collin Morikawa (+2000): Bit of a stumble in the Middle East, for him. On paper it’s perfect but it’s only this third start and T26/T44 are the two paydays. Ride or die!
Rory McIlroy (+2200): I’ll lean here as he rolls in with four top 12s including a win since October. Sure he MC last year but so did JT. Interesting.
Hideki Matsuyama (+2500): Loaded fields bring tempting numbers. I’ll just sign up for another top 10.
Viktor Hovland (+2500): DESTROYED this place tee to green last year on his debut (T5). Stark reminder than The Riviera Country Club is a 14 bag test, not just tee to green. Short game isn’t a strength but the Ball-Striking is ridiculous. Might have to be perfect for him to cash that ticket though…
Xander Schauffele (+2500): Hasn’t missed in four tries and won’t be bothered by Poa. He might enjoy it after making nothing last week T3 at WM Phoenix Open while torching that place tee to green. 14 clubs in his bag too. 3 way action.
Scottie Scheffler (+2800): Back to back? Sure, why not? He won some college stuff here and hits it GREAT. I don’t do guys after their first wins, especially on a track like this but I might have to make an exception as well as he’s hitting it. Top 10 out of curiosity on my theory!
33-1 or Worse Select Opinions
Will Zalatoris (+3000): FLYING to start the year and should have won at Torrey Pines. Instead he lost a playoff and got COVID. Tough place to shake off the rust.
Brooks Koepka (+3300): Careful. Like Bubba, he plays well where he plays well. This week doesn’t qualify.
Matt Fitzpatrick (+4000): WD from Pro-Am with a stomach deal? Better look into that before you set it and forget it.
Sungjae Im (+4000): Holy shit he took two weeks in a row off! People thought he died! How he’s above Scott and Watson here is something, especially off a layoff. I’ll let you.
Bubba Watson/Adam Scott (+4500): 5 wins between them. Excellent results in the Middle East and made cuts last week.
Max Homa (+5500): His spiritual home. T3 Fairways last week suggests he’s dialed in a for a sturdy defense. I agree.
Joaquin Niemann (+5500): Rolls in on a pair of top 10 paydays. Does he have enough short game?
Talor Gooch (+6000): Last Sunday is going to scare you away or light your candle. Candle lit. Top 10. Top 20.
Thomas Pieters (+7500): Lovely walk down memory lane as he won the NCAA championship here and was T2 in 2017. Oh, and he’s SHIT FIRE HOT in Europe. Top 10, Top 20.
Patrick Reed (+9000): Nobody hits a ton of fairways or greens here and not many can grind it out like he can. Masters angle doesn’t hurt either.
Si Woo Kim (+9000): Really steady run of form. Top 10, Top 20.
Funny Money
Cameron Tringale (+10000): This is the right week during his streak for a big finish.
Erik Van Rooyen (+15000): Yeah, form is too good not throw out a ticket or two.
Doug Ghim (+15000): Eight straight.
Adam Hadwin (+15000): Seven straight here. #OnBrand.
Francesco Molinari (+20000): The book doesn’t give away free money. Careful.
JJ Spaun (+30000): Should play the weekend.
James Hahn (+35000): Three straight T15 or better. Let’s gamble!
Dylan Frittelli (+40000): Top 40.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.
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