Rafael Guillén
The Genesis Invitational, hosted by Tiger Woods, is the last West Coast Swing event before Florida. The golfer will be joined by several of the best golfers of the PGA Tour.
Woods’ return after a long absence is a pleasant surprise, having not played since the British Open in July last year. He joins a spectacular lineup including the top three in the world ranking: Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler (Phoenix Open winner), and Rory McIlroy. In this way, the Genesis Open has just become the most attractive tournament so far this season.
Played at California’s iconic Riviera Country Club, this tournament, formerly known as the Los Angeles Open, is one of the most iconic courses in the United States with nearly 98 years of existence. It’s one of the most challenging courses on the Tour and has a unique nickname, “Hogan’s Alley,” due to Ben Hogan’s three wins in 1942, 1947, and 1948. Hogan was intimately familiar with every fairway and green on the course.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the PGA Tour’s Genesis Open running on February 16-19, 2023
- Where: Riviera Country Club – California.
- When: Thursday, February 16 – Sunday, February 19.
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Favorites
Scottie Scheffler (odds +1000 at BetMGM)
Following his victory at the Phoenix Open, Scheffler has become the new number one in the world rankings. During the fourth round, he shot an eagle on the 13th hole, which made him the solo leader. Despite the pressure, he remained composed and demonstrated his connection with the game.
In fact, the Phoenix Open was his first title of the season, and his best score so far. In Arizona, he shot a 265.
Jon Rahm (odds +750 at BetMGM)
Rahm’s position in the world’s top three is well-deserved, as he remains one of the best golfers. Although he made mistakes during the Phoenix Open, including a couple of bogeys in the fourth round that cost him a third-place finish,
he has been consistent this season, with two titles and no finish below the top 5 so far. However, he’s a bit stagnant and faces a challenging field at the Genesis Open, where he aims to secure his first win. He’ll have to reduce his mistakes, as this field is typically difficult for him.
Justin Thomas (odds +1600 at BetMGM)
Justin Thomas can be unstoppable when he gains momentum, but the challenge lies in getting it. He finished fourth in the Phoenix Open with a fantastic fourth round, scoring three consecutive birdies to finish with a 65.
However, his slow start prevented him from achieving total success. Thomas struggles to warm up, which is unacceptable in top-level tournaments. Despite this, he enjoys playing on this course and has finished in the top 10 in his last five visits. In 2019, he came in second, missing the win by only one stroke behind J.B. Holmes.
Sleeper Picks
Sam Burns (+2800 odds at BetMGM)
Burns’ third round at the Phoenix Open drew a lot of attention: he shot a 64 to be the best in the field that day, and his Eagle on the 13th hole got all the applause from the almost 200 thousand people that attended Scottsdale. This wasn’t enough for him to win (he finished sixth) but he has been improving and the Genesis Open could be a perfect opportunity for him to be crowned as a winner.
Rory McIlroy (odds +1000 at BetMGM)
Yes, McIlroy’s not a favorite, especially after what we saw in the Phoenix Open. He had a forgettable first round at the last tour event, scoring a 73, and remained sluggish and inconsistent throughout the weekend. Although he’s still a notable player, he’s yet to win this particular event and has never finished in the top three at the Riviera. It would be unexpected for him to secure a victory.
Dark Horse
Tiger Woods (odds +15000 at BetMGM)
Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, could assert his dominance by winning his own tournament. His current form is uncertain, since he hasn’t played since missing the cut at last year’s British Open.
It was expected that he would be just a spectator, rather than a player, so the announcement was surprising. Interestingly, Woods has never won this tournament, but there’s always a chance for a first-time winner.
JefeBet Prediction
Those who go the extra mile get good results, and we believe that this could be Jon Rahm’s chance to finally win his third title of the season. He showed very good things at the Phoenix Open, and if not for some mistakes, he would have won the competition. Hopefully, he has learned from them to head into this 2023 Genesis Open with a lot more momentum.
