You know the PGA Tour is getting serious when the game’s big guns start pegging it up. And it doesn’t get any better than this week’s Genesis Invitational when all of the world’s top-10 golfers, including No. 1 and outright betting favorite Jon Rahm, are set for a go at fabled Riviera Country Club. With a limited field of 120 golfers, the invite-only event puts a cap on the West Coast swing. Max Homa is back to defend the title he won last year in a playoff over Tony Finau for his second career Tour victory. The Golden State native went off at better than 50/1 and is sitting in the same neighborhood this year. The top of the odds board is littered with the best players in the world allowing for a number of quality matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Genesis Invitational Matchup Odds
Jon Rahm -128 vs. Patrick Cantlay -102
Jon Rahm -159 vs. Justin Thomas +127
Patrick Cantlay -133 vs. Justin Thomas +103
Dustin Johnson -159 vs. Collin Morikawa +127
Dustin Johnson -120 vs. Rory McIlroy -110
Collin Morikawa +107 vs. Rory McIlroy -137
Xander Schauffele -144 vs. Hideki Matsuyama +114
Xander Schauffele -139 vs. Scottie Scheffler +109
Hideki Matsuyama -102 vs. Scottie Scheffler -128
Viktor Hovland +118 vs. Cameron Smith -148
Viktor Hovland -118 vs. Will Zalatoris -112
Cameron Smith -161 vs. Will Zalatoris +128
Brooks Koepka +108 vs. Jordan Spieth -138
Sungjae Im -116 vs. Sam Burns -114
Matthew Fitzpatrick -104 vs. Adam Scott -126
Bubba Watson -109 vs. Max Homa -121
Talor Gooch -119 vs. Tony Finau -111
Russell Henley -118 vs. Joaquin Niemann -112
Marc Leishman -120 vs. Thomas Pieters -110
Sergio Garcia -112 vs. Paul Casey -118
Jason Kokrak -105 vs. Kevin Na -125
Cameron Tringale -134 vs. Abraham Ancer +104
Alex Noren +101 vs. Seamus Power -131
Si Woo Kim -138 vs. Lanto Griffin +108
Tom Hoge -102 vs. Luke List -128
Patrick Reed +105 vs. Corey Conners -135
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -118 vs. Erik Van Rooyen -112
Maverick McNealy -128 vs. Mackenzie Hughes -102
Harold Varner III -116 vs. Adam Hadwin -114
Robert MacIntyre +128 vs. Martin Laird -161
Carlos Ortiz -104 vs. Jhonattan Vegas -126
Sahith Theegala -149 vs. Francesco Molinari +119
Rickie Fowler -118 vs. Matt Kuchar -112
Need to Know
Not a lot has changed with this tournament over the years. It is now an invitational so the field is limited to 120 golfers, though that doesn’t impact any of the important stuff. The 7,322-yard, par-71 Riviera Country Club will serve as host, 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. There are no water hazards, but accuracy is a must with narrow fairways, strategically placed bunkers and a layer of thick rough that swallows golf balls obstacles. Playing a conservative game will get you to the weekend, but probably not to the podium.
Genesis Invitational Matchup Picks
Patrick Cantlay -102 vs. Jon Rahm
It’s hard to go against Rahm in any tournament, but has anyone played as much high-stress golf as Cantlay lately? The reigning FedExCup champion has been as good if not better than his matchup counterpart, and Cantlay has a nice resume at Riviera to boot. Although he hasn’t won on Tour yet this season, Cantlay is exhibiting spectacular form. He fell last week in a playoff giving him three top-5s among his four top-10s in four starts this year. And since I’m always looking for value picks, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Bubba Watson -109 vs. Max Homa
When talking about this tournament it’s hard not to mention Watson’s name. He may be left out of the conversation after missing the cut the previous two years, but his run of three titles in five years between 2014 and 2018 is impressive. When he makes the cut he does well with eight top-20s in his pocket. And he’s played well on the lead in with a runner-up at the Saudi Invite followed by a T14 last week in Phoenix.
Tony Finau -111 vs. Talor Gooch
Finau has come close a few times at Riviera, which has been the story of his career so far. His runner-up finish last year was his 10th since winning on Tour for the first time in 2016. He did break the spell a few months after that winning The Northern Trust, but you get the idea. We’re not betting on Finau winning outright so that’s a plus. And while he hasn’t been as good early in the season as we’re used to seeing, he’s a nice fit for Riviera with his booming drives and soft touch around the greens.
Francesco Molinari +119 vs. Sahith Theegala
There’s a reason why Molinari is offered at plus odds and there’s a reason why I’m backing him in this matchup. He dropped off the grid a bit after winning four tournaments between 2018 and 2019, including the 147th Open Championship, so folks aren’t really thinking about him. This is a home game of sorts since Molinari now resides in SoCal and is a member at Riviera. That course knowledge could work in his favor. And while he hasn’t scorched any layout this season he is 3 for 3 with a T6 at the American Express.
Rory McIlroy -110 vs. Dustin Johnson
With so many of the game’s top players competing it’s tough to avoid matchups like this. And you can find plenty of value on certain players. We haven’t heard much from McIlroy on Tour since winning the CJ CUP four months ago, but that doesn’t mean he’s been inactive. It’s been quite the opposite actually. He had a nice warm up in the Middle East with a T12 in Abu Dhabi and solo third in Dubai, and he has a pair of top-5s in this tournament since 2019.
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