After a rowdy week at the WM Phoenix Open, the PGA Tour returns to action at one of the most historic stops all year. The 2024 Genesis Invitational will welcome 70 players for the third signature event of the season. Unlike the last two signature events, the Genesis Invitational will feature a cut at the 36-hole mark as the top 50 players and those within 10 strokes of the lead make it to the weekend.
2024 Genesis Invitational Odds
| Golfer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +750 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
| Viktor Hovland | +1400 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
| Justin Thomas | +1600 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1600 |
| Max Homa | +1600 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +1800 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +1800 |
| Sam Burns | +2200 |
| Jordan Spieth | +2800 |
| Adam Scott | +2800 |
Odds as of February 13
Nine of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are set to compete, but eyes inevitably are drawn to Tiger Woods. The tournament host makes his first PGA Tour start since the 2023 Masters after an unusually busy winter that saw the 48-year-old add the Hero World Challenge to his schedule.
With his surgically repaired ankle holding up to 72 holes of competition, Woods looks to ramp up his playing schedule before the year’s first major championship. Augusta remains on the minds of many including tournament favorite and 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
Rory McIlroy, similar to Woods, has suggested a busy winter schedule and this week will continue that as he goes off at +1100. Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Patrick Cantlay and Ludvig Aberg round out those players under +2000 to begin the week.
2024 Genesis Invitational Betting Picks
Scottie Scheffler To Win (+750)
It’s only a matter of time before Scheffler starts winning in bunches and last week nearly began such a streak.
Holding the lead late into Sunday, the world No. 1 stumbled on the greens and was surpassed by a pair of players to finish in a tie for third. Scheffler ranks second in total strokes gained, first in strokes gained tee-to-green, second in strokes gained off the tee and first in strokes gained approach over the last six months.
He now has four straight top-20 finishes to begin the year and has held the lead over the weekend in three of them – including both signature events. His form at Riviera does not jump off the page like that of TPC Scottsdale, but Scheffler has connected on four straight top-30 finishes with a T-7 in 2022 and T-12 last season.
Jordan Spieth To Win (+2800)
Spieth may not have a ton of professional success at Riviera, but he will draw on the good memories of his college days when he won the national championship at this site.
Fresh off contending at the WM Phoenix Open, Spieth should be able to roll the momentum into California as he was brilliant in three aspects of his game with the iron play lagging behind. Chalk this up as an anomaly as the three-time major champion’s scoring clubs have been cooperative over the last few months as seen as the Hero World Challenge and The Sentry.
Over the last six months, Spieth is inside the top half of this field in every statistical category while ranking second in strokes gained around the green. In 11 trips to Riviera, the 30-year-old has five top-25 finishes including a T-4 effort nearly a decade ago.
Matt Fitzpatrick To Win (+4000)
The Englishman’s price seems a touch inflated given both his current form and recent history at Riviera.
Fitzpatrick comes into the Genesis Invitational fresh off a T-15 finish at the WM Phoenix Open where he continued to drive the ball brilliant. That will be key this week at Riviera as Fitzpatrick will be able to play from the most optimal spots on the fairway and will just need to experience a slight uptick with the irons to contend.
Riviera has been kind to him in that the bulk of approach shots come from mid to long iron ranges where Fitzpatrick thrives. In his first two starts at Riviera, Fitzpatrick gained a combined nine strokes on approach across the eight competitive rounds. He has seven top-20 finishes in his last 11 starts and is primed to enter the winner’s circle yet again.
J.T. Poston To Win (+5500)
There is a drop in Poston’s price given his early exit a week ago.
Hitting the ball well at TPC Scottsdale, Poston fell short on the greens. He should be given another chance at Riviera as he ranks 11th in total strokes gained, 16th in strokes gained approach and fourth in strokes gained putting over the last six months. During this time, he has notched 11 top-25 finishes including close calls at the Shriners Children’s open and The Sentry where he finished inside the top five.
While his history at Riviera leaves plenty to be desired, Poston arrives at this year’s tournament a completely different player with an all-around game.
Kurt Kitayama To Win (+8000)
The run of longshots on the PGA Tour have been both surprising and unsurprising at the same time. Chris Kirk, Wyndham Clark and Nick Taylor are proven winners of big events and Kitayama is a name that could follow in their footsteps.
The winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational a year ago, Kitayama arrives to the Genesis Invitational having just finished T-8 at the WM Phoenix Open. He hit the ball great which extends an early-season trend as he has gained strokes off the tee and on approach in each of his first starts thus far.
The ball-striking has been met with some competence on the greens which will bode well for his chances at Riviera where he gained +2.50 strokes on the greens in two rounds a season ago.
