THE GENESIS INTERNATIONAL 2023

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW FEB 23, 2023 

THE GENESIS INTERNATIONAL

THE RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB

NORTH COURSE PACIFIC PALISADES CA FEB 23 TO 26

PURSE $20,000,000 UP+$8m 40% PAR 71

This tournament is the 2nd elevated event of the year and will have a field of 134.  The players will be similar to Phoenix but includes Will Zalatoris.  Last year Joaquin Neiman shot 265 and won $2.2m, this year he is with LIV.  Riviera Country Club opened in 1926 as the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  There is no water in play.  It has been host to 3 major championships, The US Open in 1947 and PGA Championship in 1983 & 1995.  Golf Digests rates it as the 4th best course on the PGA TOUR.  They will host the 2028 Olympics.  Tiger is the host but he has never won in 15 tries and is 150/1 to win.  This is his first PGA event since 150th OPEN.

My Sentimental Favorites

#1 Jordan Spieth 29/1 Played very well at Phoenix, needs to get consistent and putt better. 

#2 Ricky Fowler 50/1 Getting better but not yet good enough to win. 

#3 Jayson Day 37/1 Same as above.
#4 Max Homa 20/1 Loves this course won in 2021 and may sneak in, a great payoff bet.
#5 Keegan Bradley 65/1 My longest Long Shot.  When he putts well he is dangerous.

Oddsmakers Favorites

#1 Jon Rahm 7/1 Going to be very angry about not winning at Phoenix & he may win this one.

#2 Rory McIlroy 10/1 same as above, lost #1 and did not play up to his standards at Phoenix.

#3 Scottie Scheffler 10/1 Difficult to win 2 in a row.  If anyone can do it he is the one.

#4 Justin Thomas 15/1 He and Jordan finished very strong at Phoenix, either one could win.

#5 Tony Finau 18/1 Love this guy and he will win this year, hopefully a major. 

The 10th hole is a 315’ par four and is considered by many including Jack Nicklaus and Rory  McIlroy as the best short par 4 in golf.  You want your 2nd shot to be on or near the green because it is surrounded by bunkers and to the right it produces more bogies than birdies.  To the left it can cause tree problems.  The 2nd shot is the most important.   From 2015 to 2020 players who went for the green averaged 1/4 shot better than those who laid up.