You know it’s time to get serious about golf when the big names start showing up. New OWGR No. 1 Rory McIlroy headlines the field as the betting favorite at online sportsbooks this week when the PGA Tour concludes the West Coast swing at the Genesis Invitational. The top six players in the world rankings take aim at the iconic Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Currently ranked No. 8, tournament host Tiger Woods gets another shot at setting the Tour record for wins on a course he’s never tamed. And with a loaded field comes a number of tantalizing tournament matchups. 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
Tiger Woods -101 vs. Patrick Cantlay -129
Matt Kuchar -114 vs. Sergio Garcia -116
Justin Rose -142 vs. Marc Leishman +112
Dustin Johnson -136 vs. Tiger Woods +106
Phil Mickelson -118 vs. Jordan Spieth -112
Branden Grace -117 vs. Max Homa -113
JB Holmes -113 vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick -117
Xander Schauffele -140 vs. Brooks Koepka +110
Tony Finau -107 vs. Hideki Matsuyama -123
Joaquin Niemann -115 vs. Alexander Noren -115
Cameron Champ -129 vs. Cameron Smith -101
Scottie Scheffler -125 vs. Adam Hadwin -105
Adam Scott -124 vs. Jason Day -106
Rory McIlroy -143 vs. Justin Thomas +113
Bryson Dechambeau -130 vs. Paul Casey +100
Patrick Reed -112 vs. Collin Morikawa -118
Rory McIlroy -125 vs. Jon Rahm -105
Corey Conners -117 vs. Ryan Palmer -113
Dustin Johnson -121 vs. Patrick Cantlay -109
Nick Taylor -128 vs. Charles Howell III -102
Xander Schauffele -179 vs. Bubba Watson +142
Bubba Watson +114 vs. Brooks Koepka -144
Justin Thomas +102 vs. Jon Rahm -132
Abraham Ancer -107 vs. Sungjae Im -123
Kevin Na -113 vs. Ryan Moore -117
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. It was another good week on my matchup picks with a 3-2 mark from Pebble Beach. I’ll look to keep the good times rolling at Riviera.
Genesis Invitational Matchup Picks
Tiger Woods +106 vs. Dustin Johnson
DJ has had more success on this course but, come on it’s Tiger at plus-odds after a splendid start to the season. And there’s added motivation for Tiger. He’s never won in 12 starts at Riviera and he can get his 83rd career Tour victory to break a tie with Sam Snead. It’s a nice two-for-one bundle. His record-tying win came in October at the ZOZO Championship, which preceded his Presidents Cup win. We last saw Tiger grabbing a T9 at the Farmers Open and it looks like he’s poised for big season.
Rory McIlroy -125 vs. Jon Rahm
There’s a reason why McIlroy leapfrogged Brooks Koepka to the top of the world rankings. He’s finished fourth or better in his last four worldwide starts, including a win at the WGC-HSBC Championship. His 2020 debut resulted in a T3 at the Farmers Insurance Open a few weeks ago, and he grabbed a share of fourth here last year in just his third start at Riviera. With 15 top-15 showings in his last 16 worldwide starts, Rahm is good. McIlroy is better.
Tony Finau -107 vs. Hideki Matsuyama
Like a number of former winners at Riviera, Finau’s game is ripe for the course. He averages over 310 yards on his drives with improved accuracy, and his GIR percentage is 28th. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but he comes in on roll following a frustrating playoff loss at the Phoenix Open and three top-15s in his previous three starts, with two doubling as a top-6. He’s also quite familiar with Riviera nabbing a runner-up and T15 in his last two starts here.
Marc Leishman +112 vs. Justin Rose
Leishman is a hit or miss pick in this matchup and I’m counting on him hitting it like he did a few weeks ago at Torrey Pines. He’s been off since that victory in the Farmers Insurance Open, so at least he’s well rested. He’s played the weekend only twice in his last five starts here, but those were good times resulting in a T4 last year and T5 in 2016.
Bubba Watson +142 vs. Xander Schauffele
I guess oddsmakers aren’t buying into whole even-numbered year thing Watson has going on. If you’re not familiar, Bubba claimed victory here in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Notice the trend? Should that pattern continue not only is Watson going to win this matchup with a hefty payout, he’s also taking the whole enchilada. Not so fast says the X-man, who stumbled in Phoenix last time out. It’s pretty cool what Watson has done and it’s worth a gamble to see if the trend continues.
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 13-16, 2020 and can be seen on Golf Channel and CBS.
