Every player in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking will be in the field this weekend as the PGA Tour ends its West Coast swing with the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.
The Genesis Invitational has attracted a field as strong as any seen outside of golf’s majors, with even the injured Tiger Woods showing up to act as the tournament host.
Stars all in attendance for Genesis Invitational
Riviera has always attracted strong fields, though this is the first time in 15 years that all of the world’s top 10 have played at any regular PGA Tour event.
“It’s sort of turned into a can’t-miss event,†Rory McIlroy told reporters. “All the top 10 are here this week, and I think that speaks volumes for what we all think of this event. It’s one that you don’t want to miss.â€
No matter who shows up for a tournament, top-ranked Jon Rahm usually stands out as the favorite. That’s no different at the Genesis Invitational, where DraftKings lists Rahm as the +800 first choice to take home the title.
While Rahm was happy to talk to the media ahead of the tournament, his mind wasn’t just on Riviera. Rahm made a point of telling reporters that he had no intentions of jumping to any so-called Super Tour that might try to sign away some of the world’s top players.
“This is my official, my one and only time I’ll talk about this, where I am officially declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour,†Rahm said. “There has been a lot of talk about speculation about the Saudi league. It’s just not something I believe is the best for me and my future in golf, and I think the best legacy I can accomplish will be with the PGA Tour.â€
Rahm is far from the only big name to express no interest in joining a breakaway tour. Others, including Wods, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth have said they plan to stay with the PGA Tour no matter what as well.
Cantlay praises Riviera for tournament golf
Patrick Cantlay (+1000) enters the Genesis Invitational as the second choice at DraftKings. Cantlay nearly picked up a win at the Phoenix Open last weekend, falling to Scottie Scheffler (+2500) in a playoff. He can now potentially leapfrog both No. 2 Collin Morikawa (+1600) and Rahm to take the No. 1 position in the world this week.
| Genesis Invitational Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook) |
| Jon Rahm: +800 |
| Patrick Cantlay: +1000 |
| Justin Thomas: +1400 |
| Dustin Johnson: +1600 |
| Collin Morikawa: +1600 |
| Hideki Matsuyama: +1800 |
| Rory McIlroy: +2000 |
| Xander Schauffele: +2200 |
| Cameron Smith: +2200 |
Cantlay certainly has good things to say about Riviera. He told reporters that it may be the best tournament golf course in the country.
“I think it defends par without getting tricked up better than any golf course I’ve ever been to,†Cantlay told reporters. “There’s basically no rough out there, there’s no water, you only can really hit it our of bounds on the 12th hold. And yet 13, 14, 15, 16 under wins pretty much every time.â€
Justin Thomas (+1400), Dustin Johnson (+1600), and Hideki Matsuyama (+1800) are among the other favorites to win the Genesis Open.