You know it’s time to get serious when golf’s big names take the stage. With the PGA Tour’s bigger tournaments just around the corner we have a stacked field assembled for this week’s Genesis Invitational with eight of the OWGR top-10 in attendance, including No. 1 and betting favorite Dustin Johnson. The invite-only field closes the book on the West Coast swing with 120 golfers taking their whacks at the iconic Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Tiger Woods will even be in attendance, but he won’t be playing as he continues to mend from back surgery. Even without the Big Cat there are a number of tantalizing matchups with many of the best players in the world. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Genesis Invitational Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Patrick Cantlay -114 vs. Bryson Dechambeau -116
Tony Finau -162 vs. Brooks Koepka +129
Collin Morikawa +130 vs. Adam Scott -163
Brooks Koepka -110 vs. Viktor Hovland -120
Hideki Matsuyama -135 vs. Jordan Spieth +105
Scottie Scheffler -125 vs. Bubba Watson -105
Joaquin Niemann -172 vs. Marc Leishman +137
Will Zalatoris -119 vs. Max Homa -111
Russell Henley -119 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick -111
Kevin Na -126 vs. Francesco Molinari -104
Gary Woodland +144 vs. Cameron Tringale -182
Matt Kuchar +114 vs. Lanto Griffin -144
Rickie Fowler -125 vs. Maverick McNealy -105
Brendon Todd +100 vs. JT Poston -130
Brendan Steele -117 vs. Adam Hadwin -113
Kyoung Hoon Lee -129 vs. Nate Lashley -101
Patrick Cantlay -125 vs. Tony Finau -105
Bryson Dechambeau -172 vs. Brooks Koepka +137
Justin Thomas -110 vs. Xander Schauffele -120
Justin Thomas -107 vs. Rory McIlroy -123
Justin Thomas -113 vs. Jon Rahm -117
Xander Schauffele -107 vs. Rory McIlroy -123
Jordan Spieth -111 vs. Viktor Hovland -119
Rory McIlroy -120 vs. Jon Rahm -110
Rory McIlroy +122 vs. Dustin Johnson -153
Jon Rahm +127 vs. Dustin Johnson -160
Tony Finau -215 vs. Collin Morikawa +168
Jon Rahm -111 vs. Xander Schauffele -119
Brooks Koepka -150 vs. Collin Morikawa +120
Dustin Johnson -155 vs. Xander Schauffele +124
Justin Thomas -133 vs. Patrick Cantlay +103
Adam Scott -122 vs. Viktor Hovland -108
Patrick Cantlay -114 vs. Bryson Dechambeau -116
Adam Scott -132 vs. Sergio Garcia +102
Justin Thomas -131 vs. Bryson Dechambeau +101
Need to Know
Other than the name not much has changed with this event. Now an invitational, the field is limited to 120 golfers, though that doesn’t impact any of the important stuff. We’re back to a one-course event this week with 7,322-yard, par-71 Riviera Country Club handling the honors, like it’s done with a few exceptions since 1973. With six par-4s that play over 455 yards and a pair of 580-plus yard par-5s, the course plays longer than its length making drivers a weapon of choice. Accuracy is a must with narrow fairways, and strategically placed bunkers and thick rough that swallows golf balls are also obstacles. Playing a conservative game will get you to the weekend, but probably not to the podium.
Genesis Invitational Matchup Picks
Jordan Spieth +105 vs. Hideki Matsuyama
I’m jumping on Spieth’s bandwagon after a pair of top-5s in his last two starts. I actually started the bandwagon three tournaments ago and missed joining the fun by a week, but I’m still a big fan of his and expected a return to greatness after a couple of scuffling years. It might be too much to ask for him to put another strong tournament together, or maybe he’s ready to finish the deal with four solid rounds. I’m wagering on the latter and will accept the plus-odds to do so.
Maverick McNealy -105 vs. Rickie Fowler
Until Fowler shows signs of breaking out of his slump the way Spieth has I’m staying away. There is something to be said about experience on the Riviera layout and McNealy has none. But he’s also torn up a few courses that he’s never seen before so I’m not too worried. McNealy bounced back from a couple of rough starts to bag a T2 last week at Pebble Beach, and his distance and accuracy off the tee should help his scoring.
Xander Schauffele +124 vs. Dustin Johnson
You can’t get any better without winning a tournament, and though I’ve said this before it’s only a matter of time before Schauffele returns to the winner’s circle. He grabbed a T2 in each of his last two starts and has three seconds among five top-5s in seven starts this season. Those other two weren’t bad either with a pair of T17s. The X-man has three top-25s in three starts at The Riv with a best of ninth in 2018. He’s playing at a high level and just needs to catch a break. I’ll happily back him at this price, even though he’s matched up against the best player in the world.
Collin Morikawa +130 vs. Adam Scott
My matchup record would be a lot better if I stuck with the favorites. But where’s the fun in that? I still can’t get Morikawa’s win at the PGA Championship out of my head when it comes to matchups. Since I'm always looking for value picks it’s hard not to pick Morikawa. He opened the year with a pair of T7s in Hawai’i and has had a few weeks off since competing in Dubai on the Euro circuit. His expert ball-striking and accuracy off the tee should play well at Riviera, where he was T26 in his debut last year.
Brooks Koepka +137 vs. Bryson DeChambeau
While Riviera hasn’t been kind to Koepka he is brimming with confidence after claiming the title at the Phoenix Open a few weeks back. After three straight MCs, Brooks was in a groove carding a closing 65 to win by a stroke. The field for the Genesis has a major feel to it and we know how Koepka thrives in those big events. You won’t get the former world No. 1 at this price very often and his game is good enough to warrant a big payout.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu. The Genesis Invitational is scheduled for February 18-21, 2021 and can be seen on Golf Channel and CBS.
