Blog#313 Genesis Invitational

Blog#313 Genesis Invitational

Riviera CC Los Angeles, CA

Feb 19-22, 2026 Par 71

Purse $20M same as last year

HISTORY

Tiger Woods is the host and has played 15 times and never won at Riviera nor has McIlroy.

It is a course that Ben Hogan owned winning the LA Open in 1947 & 1948 and also the US Open which was held at Riveria. The course’ nickname is “Hogan’s Ally” and he called the par 3 third hole “the greatest in America”. Sorry Agusata#12, Pebble Beach#7 & Sawgrass#17.

FAVORITES

1 Scottie Scheffler 3/1 Finally he should get a good start and win.

2 Rory McIlroy 13/1 Had a good final RD last week 64 after 3 DBs & Triple bogie in 1st 3 RDs.

3 X Scheffler 19/1 His game getting better each week but still not good enough to win.

3 Tommy Fleetwood 19/1 Usually in top 10 and 1st win last year, but still has trouble closing.

5 H Matsuyma 20/1 He won 2 years ago with a fabulous final RD and may do it again.

6 Patrick Cantlay 25/1 I don’t why his odds are always so high, hasn’t won in years.

7 27/1 Russell Henley He is due for a good tournament.

7 Collin Morikawa 27/1 His best golf in years to win last week, but tough to win back to back.

9 Sam Burns 30/1 He has played very well this year but needs to put together 4 good RDs.

9 Si Woo Kim 30/1 Same as Burns.

9 Cameron Young 30/1 Too inconsistent, same as Cantlay, no chance to win.

12 Min Woo Lee 35/1 He is going to win soon and may be this week.

MY WINNER I think Scheffleris ready to break out of it, if not him maybe Matsuyma.

LONG-SHOTS

12 Viktor Hovland 35/1 Shows signs of breaking out of slump but always has a few bad holes.

Maverick McNealy 40/1 He has been knocking on the door and may be the best long shot

Matt Fitzpatrick,s Sepp Straka 40/1 dBoth of these players in same boat as McMealy.

Akshay Bhatia 50/1 Never count him out but always seems to blow it in back 9.

Jordan Spieth 55/1 His game not tithe yet but we hope out comes around soon.

ROUND 1 Due to heavy rains the 1st Rd starts late and was suspended with 28 of the 80 players not able to complete their RD. Listed are the leaders prior to suspension.

1 Aaron Rai-6 Thru 16. Starts with eagle on 1 then 2 bogies 5 birdies.

2 Jacob Bridgeman F-5 Starts with eagle DB on #3 then 5 birdies.

2 Rory McIlroy F-5 Birdies 3 of 1st 4 holes then 3 more birdies and a bogie on #16.

4 Ryan Fox F-4 Birdies 1st 2 holes then 4 more birdies 2 bogies.

5 Pierceson CoodyF-3 Another wild RD with 4 bogies & 7 birdies.

5 A BhatiaF-3 Another good start 3 birdies 1st 4 holes then 2 bogies 2 birdies even par last 14.

5 Colin MorikawaF-3 Also started strong with 4 birdies 0 bogies front 9 then +1 3 bogies back.

5 Aldrich PotgerterF-3 Also wild RD bogies #10 then 3birdies11,12,13, bogies14&16 birdies 18.

5 Matt GreysermanF-3 Two bogies 5 birdies.

5 SW Kim-3 Thru 11 Birdies 3 of 1st 7 holes 0 bogies thru 11.

5 M Penge-3 Thru 9 Eagles #1 then 2 birdies 1 bogie thru 9.

71 Scottie Scheffler+5 Thru 10 Third poor start in a row with 3 bogies 1 DB thru 10 holes.