Another heavyweight field is heading to the iconic Riviera Golf Course, but playing headliner this week is tournament host Tiger Woods — who announced he'd be throwing his hat in the ring.
The Tiger-hosted Genesis Invitational routinely pulls one of the best non-major championship fields on the PGA Tour schedule and with it receiving elevated status in 2023, it's no shock to see almost all of the top players teeing it up.
Where does Tiger stack up in his return? Who are the favorites? Find out in our Genesis Invitational betting preview below, including outright odds, free golf picks, and more.
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The Genesis Invitational picks and predictions
Sam Burns Top 30 (+110)
There’s a lot to like about Sam Burns this week. He’s rather quietly bounced back from finishing 32nd out of 38 guys at the Sentry with a T11 finish at the Amex and a T6 in Phoenix.
His game has been extremely well-rounded over that span, gaining strokes in all five areas in each of those two starts. That includes 15.1 strokes gained from tee to green and strong putting figures as well.
He did miss the weekend here a year ago, but that came during a stretch of three straight missed cuts – which is far from the case this time around. In 2021, he finished solo third and carried a lead into the back nine on Sunday.
This is certainly a big-boy venue but Burns has proven he can go toe-to-toe with the best.
Adam Scott to finish 39th or better (-120 at bet365)
This line is… rather curious. The Aussie is a course horse at Riviera and his results have remained consistent for nearly two decades, creating a rather straightforward handicap this week.
Scott has made 14 starts here to the tune of two victories (2005, 2020) and 10 Top-20 finishes (!). Only three times has he finished outside of this 39th or better threshold.
Similar figures could be applied to his recent form. He finished T21 at the Sony Open most recently and has eight Top 25s in 13 worldwide starts going back to the U.S. Open in June. That stretch includes just two finishes worse than 39th.
Aside from this line being 8-10 places too high, there’s really not much else to say. He’s rested and has a track record here at Riv that could rival just about anyone teeing it up this week.
Odds to win 2023 The Genesis Invitational
The Genesis Invitational field and favorites
This event didn't need elevated status to pull the Tour's heavy hitters, but with that designated tag, this week's field is bursting at the seams.
It naturally starts with Jon Rahm, who enters the week a +850 solo favorite over Rory McIlroy (+1,000) after falling just short of another win over the weekend. Following a successful title defense in Phoenix that returned him to World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler sits third on the board at +1,100.
The second tier of stars features Xander Schauffele (+1,600, T10 last week), Justin Thomas (+1,600, solo-fourth), and Tony Finau (+1,800, T14). 2021 champion Max Homa is available at 20/1 with two-time major champion Collin Morikawa the only other listed shorter than 25/1.
Tiger Woods odds to win The Genesis Invitational
And while there's plenty of star power to go around, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods this week. The 15-time major winner announced his return over the weekend and to say the least, it has the golf world buzzing.
I'm ready to play an ACTUAL PGA Tour event next week @thegenesisinv
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 10, 2023
We haven't seen Tiger tee it up since December when he played in the latest edition of The Match and the PNC Championship. He showed flashes of great golf and maintains that his game is in great shape but he hasn't played a competitive Tour round since a missed cut at St. Andrews last July.
The odds certainly reflect that, with Tiger opening up at around 130/1 and as high as 150/1 at BetMGM.
The Genesis Invitational recent winners and odds history
Let's take a look at some recent Genesis Invitational winners and their closing odds to win:
| Year | Golfer | Closing odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Joaquin Niemann | +5,000 |
| 2021 | Max Homa | +5,000 |
| 2020 | Adam Scott | +3,000 |
| 2019 | J.B. Holmes | +100,000 |
| 2018 | Bubba Watson (3) | +5,000 |
| 2017 | Dustin Johnson | +750 |
| 2016 | Bubba Watson (2) | +2,000 |
| 2015 | James Hahn | OTB |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | +2,500 |
| 2013 | John Merrick | OTB |
| 2012 | Bill Haas | +4,000 |
| 2011 | Aaron Baddeley | +100,000 |
| 2010 | Steve Stricker | +1,200 |
Odds courtesy of GolfOdds.
Genesis Invitational Odds FAQs
Scottie Scheffler is a +700 betting favorite to win the 2024 Genesis Invitational.
Tiger Woods is indeed returning to play the 2024 Genesis Invitational. He's on the board between +10,000 and +17,500 to win the event for the first time this week.
The Genesis Invitational is played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The 7,322-yard Par 71 with Poa annua greens and Kikuyu fairways was designed by George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell. The course, which opened in 1926, has hosted three PGA major championships and has been the full-time home to the Genesis Invitational since 1999.
The 2024 Genesis Invitational purse is $20 million, with $3.6 million going to the winner.
