The last stop on the West Coast Swing is in Los Angeles for the 96th Genesis Invitational.
Originally started in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open, previous corporate sponsors include Northern Trust Corporation and Nissan Motors.
Hyundai Motor Group’s subsidiary Genesis Motors has been the title sponsor since 2017.
The Genesis Invitational will be played at Riviera Country Club. Riviera has been in the venue rotation to host the Genesis, and has by far hosted the most tournaments at 59.
Riviera has also hosted four major championships including the 1948 U.S. Open won by Ben Hogan.
In addition to being an elevated event, the Genesis Invitational received an added boost after Tiger Woods‘ announcement that he would be playing in his first PGA Tour event of the year.
Woods has not competed on the PGA Tour in a non-major since the BMW Championship back in August of 2020 which was prior to the car accident that took place in February 2021.
Tiger has attempted to play in the majors post accident with limited to little success.
In the three majors Woods entered in 2022 his best result was a 47th place at the Masters. He withdrew from the PGA Championship and missed the cut at The Open Championship.
Notables in the Field
It’s a stacked field for the Genesis Invitational, and some of the best in the world will be competing for the increased purse for this year’s event.
19 of the players ranked in the top-20 in the Official World Golf Rankings will be in the field for the Genesis Invitational.
The lone exception not be in the field is Cam Smith who has defected to the LIV Golf Series.
In addition to Smith’s absence from the Genesis Invitational field, there are other LIV Golf defectees that have won the Genesis that also will be absent from Riviera.
Joaquin Niemann, who won last year’s Genesis Invitational, left for LIV Golf.
Bubba Watson, a three time winner (2014, 2016, 2018), Dustin Johnson (2017), and two time winner Phil Mickelson (2008, 2009) have also left for LIV Golf, and will not be in the Genesis field.
| Rory McIlroy | Jon Rahm | Cam Young | Max Homa |
| Scottie Scheffler | Jordan Spieth | Viktor Hovland | Collin Morikawa |
| Patrick Cantlay | Justin Thomas | Will Zalatoris | Xander Schauffele |
| Tony Finau | Sam Burns | Hideki Matsuyama | Sungjae Im |
| Viktor Hovland | Matt Fitzpatrick | Tom Kim | Billy Horschel |
Players to watch
Tiger Woods
One of the few events on the PGA Tour that he hasn’t won, this will be Tiger’s 15th time playing the Genesis Invitational.
Tiger’s best result came in 1998 & 1998 when he finished 2nd when the event was contested as the Nissan Open.
Due to his continued recovery this will be Tiger’s first event of the season.
Tony Finau
This will be Tony’s ninth trip to Riviera for The Genesis Invitational.
Finau’s best finish has been a tie for second on two occasions. Once in 2021, and the other was 2018 when the event was contested as Genesis Open.
In six events so far this season Tony has three top-10 finishes including a win at the Cadence Bank Houston Open.
The other two top-10s were a tie for seventh place at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, and a ninth place at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Tony’s most recent result was a tie for 14th place at the WM Phoenix Open.
Sahith Theegala
This will be Sahith’s third trip to Riviera for the Genesis Invitational.
His best finish was 48th place in 2022.
In 2017 Sahith won the Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase while he was a sophomore at Pepperdine University which gained him entry to the Genesis Invitational.
Sahith went on to make the cut that week and finished the tournament tied for 49th place.
Theegala also compete at the 2017 US Amateur Championship which was also held at Rivera
In 10 official PGA Tour events so far this year Sahith has four top-10s, including three top-5s.
His best finish was a tie for second place at the RSM Classic back in November 2022.
Sahith also has a win in an unofficial PGA Tour event.
Back in December he won the QBE Shootout with partner Tom Hoge.
Cam Champ
This will be Cam’s fourth trip to Los Angeles for the Genesis Invitational.
Of the four previous entries Cam has one made cut which came in last year’s event when he finished in 67th place.
In eight events so far this season Cam has one top-10 and six missed cut.
The lone top-10 came at the ZOZO Championship where he finished in eighth place.
Tee Times
All Times EST
Woods: Thursday – 3:04 PM; Friday – 10:24 AM
Finau: Thursday – 10:35 AM; Friday – 3:15 PM
Theegala: Thursday – 3:59 PM; Friday – 11: 19 AM
Champ: Thursday – 10:57 AM; Friday 3:37 PM
How to watch
Thursday & Friday: 4 – 8 PM (Golf Channel)
Saturday: 1 – 3 PM (Golf Channel); 3 – 7 PM (CBS)
Sunday: 1 – 3 PM (Golf Channel); 3 – 6:30 PM (CBS)