Genesis Invitational preview: TV times and betting tips
Barry Plummer has everything you need to know as the PGA Tour moves on to Tiger’s event at Riviera
If you come across this article, please see the updated version here
The PGA Tour stars move down the California coast for this week’s Genesis Invitational. Tiger Woods will be there to host – though he won’t be playing – and there is a cracking field in place at Riviera, including World No 1 Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka.
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Venue: Riviera Country Club, California, USA
Date: February 18-21, 2021
Course stats: Par 71; 7,322 yards
Course summary: As we roll down the coast to Los Angeles, leaving the iconic Pebble Beach behind, we are posed with a familiar challenge from weeks gone by. Riviera has a number of links with Torrey Pines, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. The challenging, tree-lined, Kikuyu fairways at Riviera are similar to those at Torrey, with strategic shot shaping required. The comparisons do not end there, with both venues using Poa Annua greens, making previous form at the Farmers Insurance Open very interesting when studying the field here.
Purse: $9.3 million
Defending champion: Adam Scott (-11)
Genesis Invitational preview: TV coverage
Thursday: Featured Groups coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 2.45pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 3pm; Main coverage on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm
Friday: Featured Groups coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 2.45pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 3pm; Main coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30pm
Saturday: Featured Group coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 4pm; Main coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm
Sunday: Featured Group coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 4pm; Main coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 7.30pm
Genesis Invitational preview: Dialled In
Once again I’m joined by Steve Carroll on the Dialled In podcast to discuss the Genesis Invitational and who I think will triumph this week.
This week I’ve got some in-form stars coming in at nice prices, as well as a much-fancied outsider.
You can listen here, or on your preferred podcast platform.
If you’d prefer to read my picks, you can do so on the next page…
Genesis Invitational preview: Staking plan
Patrick Cantlay – 5pt win @ 18/1 with bet365
Cantlay can certainly be described as a man in form, with a second and third placed finish in his last two starts. The California native will be looking to add to his win at the ZOZO earlier in the season, and he has a great chance to do that here at a course where he has already finished 4th in 2018. Cantlay currently ranks 8th on tour for SG: Tee-to-green, 6th for SG: Around-the-green and in the last three months has fired up the putter, ranking 3rd for SG: putting since December. All of those measures are key for success at this event, and Cantlay clearly knows how to navigate Riviera as he has three top-20 finishes here in his last three starts. His recent form further justifies his selection this week, reading 3-2-13-17-1, with consistently high quality performances dating back to his win in October. Judging by the calibre of this field, he will need to repeat that this week but I feel he is good value when comparing against the other market leaders.
Viktor Hovland – 3pt e/w @ 30/1 with bet365
Speaking of electrifying form, Hovland is really putting on a show this season. The young Norwegian has one win and three top 6 finishes in his last five starts, and was runner up at Torrey Pines a few weeks ago. That form could be really interesting considering the correlation between the courses, so it is worth noting that he ranked in the top 10 for SG: Approach, SG: Tee-to-green and SG: Total at that event. His recent performances also seem to be improving each week, ranking 1st for SG: Approach and 3rd for SG: Tee-to-green in the last 30 days. With the Ryder Cup looming later this year, Hovland will be looking to continue this fine run of form and at a generous price he could be a good player to side with this week.
Joaquin Niemann – 1.5pt e/w @ 50/1 with bet365
Niemann started the 2021 calendar year with a bang, rattling off two runner-up finishes in quick succession. Despite not seeing him since then, I am liking his chances at a course that will reward his ball-striking prowess. Evidence of this is present in the figures, as In the last three months Niemann ranks 3rd for SG: Tee-to-green, 10th for SG: Approach and 9th for SG: Total. His recent form beyond those two second place finishes is also impressive, with top-25 finishes in seven of his last eight starts since the US Open. Some interesting form on Poa Annua, including when 13th at TPC Summerlin, boosts his appeal here and I can’t resist him at what looks like a juicy price.
Carlos Ortiz – 1pt e/w @ 70/1 with bet365
Ortiz will have fond memories of playing at Riviera, with steady recent form on each of his four starts here. A 9th place finish in 2019 is the highlight of the bunch, and he played brilliantly for three rounds at Torrey Pines a few weeks ago. He will be disappointed with a six over par final round, leading to a T29 finish at the Farmers, but he still stands out based on his early performances in that event. The putter has been a real strength for Ortiz of late, ranking 11th for SG: Putting in the last three months. When you consider he is also 24th for SG: Total in that time, and has a recent win, he certainly has each-way value at an event where he has played well in the past.
Matthew Fitzpatrick – 1pt e/w @ 70/1 with bet365
It seems not that long ago that Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championships in Dubai, so I am slightly shocked to see him posted at this price. Fitzpatrick is a classy player, and will relish the opportunity to play at a ball-strikers course that rewards strategic play. Despite playing predominantly on the European Tour recently, Fitzpatrick ranks 20th on the PGA Tour for SG: Approach and 8th for SG: Putting in the last three months. A 30th place finish in this event last year will have been a great learning experience for Fitzpatrick on his first attempt at this event, and for a player who is currently ranked 20th in the official world golf rankings, he is a brilliant value play this week.
JT Poston – 1pt e/w @ 125/1 with bet365
JT Poston is a player I have been watching closely for the past few events. An 18th place finish at Torrey stands out most from his recent form, but his performance on the greens was even more impressive that week. Poston ranked 1st for SG: Putting on the Poa Annua greens at the Farmers, and ranks 9th for the same category this season on the PGA Tour, which will stand him in good stead here. Three finishes inside the top 30 in his three visits to the Genesis, along with back-to-back top-20 finishes in his last two events this season, make him an interesting selection at what looks to be a big price.
For more prices, visit bet365
