The PGA Tour heads south from Pebble Beach’s rugged coastline in northern California to Pacific Palisades – just outside of Los Angeles – for the Genesis Invitational at historic Rivieria Country Club.
The long-running tournament, the finale of the five-event “West Coast Swing,” provides yet another opportunity for the players to rack up some early-season FedExCup (and Ryder Cup) points.
Adam Scott returns to L.A. to defend his 2020 title. The Aussie will be joined by eight of the world’s top-10 ranked players, headlined by No. 1 Dustin Johnson, a winner here in 2017.
As we do each week, here’s a rundown of facts and figures to get you prepped for the Genesis Invitational.
THE SKINNY
Tournament: Genesis Open
Dates:Â Feb. 18-21, 2021
Where: Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Course:Â Riviera Country Club
Distance: Par 71/7,322 yards
Architect: George Thomas Jr., William Bell (1926)
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
Purse: $9,300,000
Winning Share: $1,674,000
FedExCup Points: 500
2021 Champion:Â Adam Scott
Marquee Players: Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffle, Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger, and Justin Thomas.
TV & ONLINE
Rd 1: Th 2-6:00 pm (GOLF)
Rd 2: Fr 2-6:00 pm (GOLF)
Rd 3: Sa 1-2:45 pm (GOLF), 3-6:00 pm (CBS)
Rd 4: Su 2-2:45 pm (GOLF), 3-6:30 pm (CBS)
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History: Genesis Invitational
Long known as the Los Angeles Open, and more recently the Northern Trust Open, the Genesis Invitational has been held at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades (CA) for most of its history. The inaugural tournament was contested in 1926 with American Harry Cooper capturing the very first trophy, along with a check for $3,500.
Notable tournament winners include Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, and Dustin Johnson.
Macdonald Smith and Lloyd Mangrum – two great, but largely forgotten, players – own a record four (4) wins apiece.
The Genesis Invitational has been the site of some historically significant events. In 1938, legendary female athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias became the first woman to play a men’s professional golf event. Zaharias, who had only taken up golf three years earlier after spending years as a track and field superstar, shot 81-84 over the first two rounds and missed the cut.
In 1992, the then-titled Nissan Los Angeles Open was the site of Tiger Woods‘ first PGA Tour start. As a 16-year old high school sophomore, Tiger shot 72-75 (+5) and missed the cut.
Riviera Country Club, has hosted three major championships, most recently the 1995 PGA Championship, won by Steve Elkington in a playoff over Colin Montgomerie.
Managed by the Tiger Woods Foundation, the former Genesis Open was elevated to an ‘Invitational’ in 2020, joining the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Jack Nicklaus‘ Memorial Tournament as one of three invitational stops. The PGA Tour’s invitationals have reduced fields (120 instead of 144), larger purses ($1.674 million to winner), and a three-year tour exemption (instead of two).
HISTORY: TOURNAMENT SPONSORS/NAMES
2020-21 Genesis Invitational
2017-19 Genesis Open
2008-16 Northern Trust Open
1995-07 Nissan Open
1989-94 Nissan Los Angeles Open
1987-88 Los Angeles Open presented by Nissan
1984-86 Los Angeles Open
1971-83 Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open
1926-70 Los Angeles Open
HISTORY: RECENT CHAMPIONS
2020: Adam Scott
2019: J.B. Holmes
2018: Bubba Watson
2017: Dustin Johnson
2016: Bubba Watson
2015: James Hahn
2014: Bubba Watson
HISTORY: RECORDS
Wins:
4 – Macdonald Smith (1928-29, 1932, 1934)
4 – Lloyd Mangrum (1949, 1951, 1953, 1956)
72-Hole Score:
264 (-20) – Lanny Wadkins (1985)
18-Hole Score:
61 (-10) – Ted Tryba (1999, Rd 3)
Defending Champion
With a final-round 70, Adam Scott claimed his second career Genesis Invitational trophy, and 14th PGA Tour title.
Scott finished his four rounds at Riviera Country Club on 11-under par, two clear of a trio at 9 under, including Scott Brown, Sung Kang, and Matt Kuchar.
The win was Scott’s first PGA Tour title since going back-to-back in early 2016 at The Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac at Doral. The L.A. victory moved the then 39-year old Aussie into the Official Golf World Rankings top 10 for the first time since April 2017.
Final Top-5 Finishers
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Adam Scott -11 (-1)
2. Scott Brown -9 (-2)
2. Sung Kang -9 (-2)
2. Matt Kuchar -9 (+1)
5. Five Players Tied -8
Field: World Rank & Odds
The field this week in Los Angeles is headlined by world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who enters off a Euro Tour win in Saudi Arabia, and defending champion Adam Scott (No. 23).
Top 10: The field includes eight of the top-10 ranked players in the world including Johnson (No. 1), Jon Rahm (2), Justin Thomas (3), Xander Schauffele (4), Collin Morikawa (6), Rory McIlroy (7), Patrick Cantlay (8), and Bryson DeChambeau (10).
Top 25: Other top-25 ranked players include Brooks Koepka (No. 12), Daniel Berger (13), Viktor Hovland (14), Tony Finau (15), Matthew Wolff (18), Matthew Fitzpatrick (20), Hideki Matsuyama (22), and Kevin Na (25).
More Names: Marc Leishman (33), Sergio Garcia (40), Matt Kuchar (44), Gary Woodland (49), Bubba Watson (50), Jordan Spieth (62), and Rickie Fowler (66) are some of the other marquee names.
Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Dustin Johnson (5-1)
2. Jon Rahm (12-1)
3. Rory McIlroy (13-1)
4. Justin Thomas (14-1)
5. Xander Schauffele (16-1)
Field: Rank and Odds
Genesis Open | Riviera CC | Pacific Palisades, CA | Feb 18-21, 2021
