Tournament: 

The renowned Riviera Country Club is gearing up for The Genesis Invitational, with Tiger Woods making a much-anticipated return to the PGA TOUR since his withdrawal from the 2023 Masters. This is a signature event on the PGA Tour which features a field of 70-man including the greatest to ever do it. Hosting and playing, Woods adds a unique element to the tournament. Beyond the initial buzz about his post-Nike attire, the focus turns to his health, swing, and overall performance, providing insights into his comeback strategy. Although Riviera has eluded Woods in the past, the 2024 Genesis Invitational promises a captivating showcase of golfing talent as it unfolds on Thursday, Feb. 15, marking the culmination of the California swing.

Course Breakdown:

Riviera's been a PGA TOUR party spot since '99, keeping it real with its mix of old trees, crazy doglegs, and quirky holes (like a sand trap smack in the middle of a green). Tom Fazio did a makeover in '08, turning it into a hotspot for top tee-to-green players. Now, the fairways and rough rock Kikuyu grass, throwing in an extra challenge, especially if it grows wild. Recent rain might mean some wild, untamed rough this time around. The Poa greens are no walk in the park, causing more 3-putts than stylish birdie putts. It's a place where the big hitters with distance and muscle shine, with green-in-reg percentages playing hard to get compared to the PGA TOUR average. The par-71 layout gives only one legit birdie shot on the short first hole. Riviera's all about that unique Kikuyu grass, staying lush even when it's chilly. The bumpy Poa annua greens need some swagger in your putting game. It's a tough cookie, and winners usually cap it around 12-under par. With cooler vibes this season, the party might last a bit longer. Think of it like Copperhead or Augusta National – no cakewalk with easy holes.

Field: 

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is back in action at The Genesis after a close call at the WM Phoenix Open. He's gunning for a rare three-peat, but it won't be easy with tough competitors like FedExCup champ Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy, who's on his second start of 2024. Nick Taylor, fresh off a win, is riding high at No. 28 in the World Golf Ranking. Notable no-shows are Tiger Woods and Nicolai Højgaard. Keep an eye on Will Zalatoris, returning from back surgery, and Adam Scott, aiming for his third Riviera win. Gary Woodland is making a comeback post-brain surgery. The Aon Swing 5, featuring Charley Hoffman, adds some spice to the event, wrapping up the Aon Next 10 qualifiers.

Stats To Know

Top SG: Putting Targets

  • Nick Taylor - 10th on Tour
  • Charley Hoffman -  11th on Tour
  • Taylor Montgomery - 13th on Tour
  • Andrew Putnam - 15th on Tour
  • Sam Burns - 17th on Tour

Top Bogey Avoidance Targets

  • Xander Schauffele - 1st on Tour
  • Scottie Scheffler - 2nd on Tour
  • Justin Thomas - 3rd on Tour
  • Sam Burns - 4th on Tour
  • Jordan Spieth - 6th on Tour

Top Driving Accuracy Targets

  • Brendon Todd - 7th on Tour
  • Collin Morikawa - 8th on Tour
  • Andrew Putnam - 9th on Tour
  • Sam Ryder - 11th on Tour
  • Corey Conners - 13th on Tour

Par Scrambling Targets

  • Justin Thomas - 1st on Tour
  • Chris Kirk - 4th on Tour
  • Kurt Kitayama - 6th on Tour
  • Sam Burns - 11th on Tour
  • Max Homa - 13th on Tour

Best Course History

  • Max Homa - 1 Win, 2 Top 5s & a Top 10 (5 of 6 Cuts)
  • Viktor Hovland - 2 Top 5s & a Top 20 (3 of 3 Cuts)
  • Rory McIlory - 3 Top 10s & 2 Top 20s (6 of 7 Cuts)
  • Xander Schauffele - 1 Top 10s & 3 Top 15s (6 of 6 Cuts)
  • Tony Finau - 2 Runner-Ups, 1 Top 15 & 1 Top 20 (7 of 9 Cuts)

My Best Bets (4-9 Overall, -1.50 Units)

  • Collin Morikawa Top 10 (+170)
  • Max Homa Top 10 (+190)
  • Adam Scott Top 20 (+100)
  • Will Zalatoris Top 20 (+165)
  • Hideki Matsuyama Top 30 (+100)

One & Done Play

  • Collin Morikawa

Core Plays

Top Price

Scottie Scheffler ($11,500)

Let's be real, he's still my top dog in the Power Rankings—no one's knocking him off that spot. His best shot at the Genesis Invitational was in 2022, landing a T7 finish with a cool 6 strokes gained on Approach. The course is almost like a major, and winners at Riviera often shine at Augusta National. So, all signs point to Scottie Scheffler for this gig. If you were hoping for someone else, sorry to disappoint, but Scheffler's the main man. I can't guarantee killer odds, but he's the top contender. Despite a recent hiccup, he's back in the game, grabbing a third-place tie in Phoenix and pulling off another top-six with a whopping 13.8 strokes gained in ball striking. Keep an eye on him as he builds momentum—solid choice, especially if you want a safe bet alongside riskier ones.

Max Homa ($9,800)

Max Homa is like a pro on steroids at Riveria Country Club for The Genesis Invitational. He's been rocking the top-10 for the last four rounds, grabbing a sweet 2nd place last year and nailing a playoff win in 2021. Fun fact: Homa has bagged a whopping 45 strokes against the competition since 2020 at this event! Yeah, his putting game took a little hit lately, but guess what? At Riviera, he's a putting wizard with +11.32 strokes gained last season. Sure, he needs to tighten up his tee shots after getting a bit wild at WMPO. Homa spills his love for this gig, especially after missing out on the 2021 win due to Covid. In 2021, he nailed it, and he's become a West Coast legend with wins at Silverado, Torrey Pines, and Riviera. Five years of making the cut at Riviera, three years in the top 10—this is his jam. Max Homa: former champ, last year's runner-up, and he's been cashing those top-10 checks four times in a row. No surprise if he's a fan favorite this week!

Collin Morikawa ($9,500)

If you're into the usual picks like Scottie Scheffler or Max Homa, cool, but let's talk about Collin Morikawa from a different angle. Despite his solid track record at this event with a T2 and T6 in the last two years, Morikawa might not be on everyone's radar. Coming off a decent T14 at Pebble Beach, he's got some momentum. He's been killing it on the west coast, making all the cuts at Riviera and landing two top 6 finishes. Morikawa's tee game is all about precision – hitting about 12% more fairways than the rest over his last 24 rounds. The California guy's comfortable on his home turf, averaging 7.5 strokes Tee-To-Green in his four Genesis Invitational appearances. Keep an eye on him for some birdie action.

Mid Price

Cameron Young ($8,500)

Cameron Young has been a bit of a tease for DFS players and bettors, often coming close but not sealing the deal in golf tournaments. Last week in Phoenix, he finished T8, adding another near-miss to his record. Before that, he hadn't been in the best form, so if you're still skeptical, it's understandable. However, when Young is on his game, he's one of the best drivers out there. Now, he's heading to Riviera, a place that rewards excellence in driving. Past winners like Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson were all top drivers, and Young seems to be taking up that mantle. With a newfound confidence in his driving, he's worth considering in GPPs and on the DraftKings Sportsbook outright market. After a T-8 in Phoenix, where he had his best putting week of the season, Young seems to be hitting his stride again. Don't be surprised if he makes some noise at Genesis, a place where he's finished T-2 and T-20 in two career starts, showing he has the length and form to be a contender.

Adam Scott ($8,200)

Fresh from a solid T8 finish at the WM Phoenix Open, Adam Scott continues to defy expectations at events where he didn't historically shine. Three years back, betting on Scott upping his playing schedule in his 40s might have seemed unlikely, but his dedication is impressive. Although not a major championship, Scott believes he's got one big win left. Riviera, where he's notched seven top-10 finishes in 15 appearances, holds a special spot in his career. The 43-year-old Aussie, with a timeless game, boasts two victories and a 69.73 career scoring average at Riviera. After a strong showing in Phoenix, Scott heads back to Riviera with his swing dialed in, fueled by past success and a desire for more.

Will Zalatoris ($7,900)

After dealing with a back injury sidelining him for most of last season, Will Zalatoris faced a shaky return to golf, landing 20th at the Hero World Challenge and missing the cut at the Sony Open. Yet, his recent performances at The AmEx and Farmers indicate a positive turnaround, with a T34 and T13 finish. Notably, he showcased improvement in all aspects, including putting, on Riviera's Poa annua greens, where he secured a solo fourth last year. Given his track record at Riviera and a solid +10.2 SG: T2G, Zalatoris looks like a promising pick for One-and-Done leagues and a strong contender for an outright victory.

Value Price

Cam Davis ($7,200)

Cam Davis might not have hit his stride at Riviera yet, but I'm still optimistic about his game. The Aussie stands out as one of the top drivers in the field and impressively ranks in the top 15 for both birdie or better percentage from the rough and scrambling. After a solid 20th-place finish at Pebble Beach, where he gained over five strokes on approach, Davis enters The Genesis Invitational with attractive +5500 odds. In the past year, he's played in 24 tournaments, making the cut 15 times (62.5%) and averaging a 17th-place finish. While he's had a bit of an up-and-down year, with one missed cut, his prowess off the tee gives him an edge, as long as he keeps it in play at Riviera.

Kurt Kitayama ($6,900)

Kitayama got this knack for acing tough ball-striking courses, and guess what? This week's no exception. Last spring, he aced the challenging Bay Hill, and just last week at TPC Scottsdale, he snagged a cool T8, only making three bogeys in not-so-great conditions. We're dealing with a small field of around 70 players this week, so there's a bunch of quality names priced under $7,000 for DFS. My top pick for value in this range is Kitayama. He's a West Coast guy who knows his way around the Poa greens, and he's been on fire in 2024, with a sweet 62 at the Sony Open, a T39 at Pebble, and that T8 last week in Phoenix. Sure, he missed the cut at Riviera before, but he's killing it off the tee lately, and his improved ball-striking should boost his confidence on this notoriously tough track. Kitayama already showed he can handle the big leagues, winning at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last season and landing a T4 at the PGA Championship. Plus, his DraftKings price hasn't caught up with his awesome start.

Adam Svensson ($6,600)

Adam Svensson turned heads at The Riviera Country Club debut last year, landing a solid ninth place despite not bringing his A-game in ball-striking. His putting skills took center stage, leading the field with five hole-outs from off the greens. This success followed his breakthrough victory at The RSM Classic the previous fall, with one more top-10 finish since (T7, Wyndham Championship). Svensson's knack for connecting instantly with classic tracks, even without his best performance, hints at more success ahead. As one of the Canadians aiming for back-to-back victories (following Nick Taylor at WM Phoenix Open), Svensson's underrated talent stands out. Despite a recent missed cut, where he still impressed off the tee, my analysis suggests his approach skills could make waves in a tough field, making him a one to watch in Los Angeles this week.

Player Pool

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Stacks

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