The PGA Tour moves from Phoenix to Los Angeles this week for the 97th edition of The Genesis Invitational, colloquially known as the L.A. Open.

With an “elevated” $20 million purse and tournament host Tiger Woods making his 2023 season debut, it’s easy to see why the field in southern California is stacked this week.

The strength of field means that some surprising names had to be left out of our top 10. The following are the players we like most in when the dust settles in LA-LA land:

10. Sam Burns

In five starts on the 2023 season, the LSU product owns three finishes of T11 or better, highlighted by a T6 last week in Phoenix… In his last eight official rounds on tour, Burns has signed for three scores of 64(!)… In four career starts at the Riv, the 26-year-old star has missed two weekends but also finished solo third (2021).

Odds: 28-1
Book Rank: 13th
World Rank: 14th
World/Field Rank: 12th
Last 7: 6, 11, 32, 12, 7, 30, 24
Riviera History: MC, 3, 23, MC
Riviera Scoring Avg: 70.42 (-0.58)
Low Round: 64 (R1 2021)
Hi Round: 76 (R2 2022)
Best at Riviera: 3rd (2021)

9. Patrick Cantlay

The UCLA product finished runner-up in his first start of the new season, but has recorded three straight results outside the top 10, including a missed cut last weekend in Phoenix… Since re-establishing his tour career in 2017, Cantlay has made five starts at Riviera with a T4 in 2018 his best finish… The California native is ranked 1st on tour in both birdie average (5.71) and greens in regulation (76.98).

Odds: 28-1
Book Rank: T11
World Rank: 5th
World/Field Rank: 4th
Last 7: MC, 26, 16, 2, 16, 1, 57
Riviera History: 33, 15, 17, 15, 4, MC
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.82 (-1.18)
Low Round: 66 (R3 2022, R1 2018)
Hi Round: 75 (R2 2013)

Best at Riviera: T4 (2018)

8. Collin Morikawa

The two-time major winner enters off a missed cut in Phoenix but before that had posted three straight finishes of T6 or better… Currently ranked No. 9 in the world, the California native sits 2nd on tour in fairways hit (74.35%) and 6th in greens hit (75.76%)… Finished T2 here last season, a tournament-best for the 26-year-old Cal-Berkeley product.

Odds: 16-1
Book Rank: T4
World Rank: 7th
World/Field Rank: 6th
Last 7: 3, 2, 6, 15, 29, 45, 19
Riviera History: 2, 43, 26
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.42 (-1.58)
Low Round: 65 (R4 2022)
Hi Round: 73 (R1 2021, R4 2021, R1 2020, R4 2020)
Best at Riviera: T2 (2022)

7. Xander Schauffele

The world No. 6 enters off a top-10 finish in Phoenix, his fourth in five starts on the season… The southern California native has never missed a cut in five career starts at Riviera, recording five consecutive top-25 finishes… Schauffele’s best result in L.A. was T9 in 2018… Ranks in the top 10 on tour in strokes gained: total (3rd) and greens hit (7th).
Odds: 18-1
Book Rank: T5
World Rank: 6th
World/Field Rank: 5th
Last 7: 10, 13, 3, 4, 9, 6, 3
Riviera History: 13, 15, 23, 15, 9
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.50 (-1.50)
Low Round: 66 (R3 2022)
Hi Round: 74 (R1 2019)
Best at Riviera: T9 (2018)

6. Tony Finau

The 33-year-old Utah native enters in solid form with a win and two top-10s among his six finishes on the 2023 campaign… Finished T14 last week in Phoenix… Going back to last season, Finau owns nine top-15 finishes in his last twelve starts, highlighted by three victories… Currently ranked 2nd on the tour in strokes gained: total (2.641), 3rd in scoring (69.285) and 4th in birdies (5.32)… Owns two runner-up finishes in his five most recent starts at Riviera, highlighted by a playoff loss to Max Homa in 2021.

Odds: 18-1
Book Rank: T5
World Rank: 13th
World/Field Rank: 11th
Last 7: 14, 9, 16, 7, 7, 1, MC
Riviera History: 33, 2, 51, 15, 2, MC, MC, 56
Riviera Scoring Avg: 70.36 (-0.64)
Low Round: 64 (R4 2021)
Hi Round: 77 (R3 2015)
Best at Riviera: P2 (2021)

5. Max Homa

The southern California native enters his hometown event as the 12th ranked PGA Tour golfer in the world… The 32-year-old UC-Berkeley product comes in off a disappointing T39 in Phoenix, but already owns two wins on the 2023 season… In his last three starts at Riviera, Homa has bookended two top-10s between a win in 2021… Sits inside the top 10 on the tour in total strokes gained (6th) and birdie average (6th).

Odds: 20-1
Book Rank: 7th
World Rank: 12th
World/Field Rank: 10th
Last 7: 39, 1, 3, 17, 23, 20, 1
Riviera History: 10, 1, 5, 37, MC
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.50 (-1.50)
Low Round: 65 (R3 2020)
Hi Round: 76 (R1 2015)
Best at Riviera: 1st (2021)

4. Justin Thomas

The 15-time Tour winner recorded his first top-10 finish of 2023 last week in Phoenix, riding a final-round 65 to a solo fourth… In his last five starts at Riviera, JT has been hit or miss with two missed-cuts and three top-10s… Infamously shot a Sunday 75 in 2019 to blow a six-shot Sunday lead, resulting in a runner-up finish to JB Holmes.

Odds: 16-1
Book Rank: 4th
World Rank: 7th
World/Field Rank: 6th
Last 7: 4, 25, 25, 5, 40, 4, 52
Riviera History: 8, MC, MC, 2, 9, 39, 54, 41
Riviera Scoring Avg: 70.21 (-0.79)
Low Round: 65 (R2 2019, R3 2019)
Hi Round: 76 (R4 2016)
Best at Riviera: 2nd (2019)

3. Rory McIlroy

The 35-year-old Northern Ireland star enters off a rare poor finish (T32), which – coupled with Scottie Scheffler’s win – knocked him from the top spot in the world rankings… Still, the now world No. 2, has posted seven top-4 finishes, including three victories, in his last eight starts… McIlroy has made six career starts in L.A. and has finished inside the top 20 five times, with a T4 in 2019 his best.

Odds: 11-1
Book Rank: T2
World Rank: 2nd
World/Field Rank: 2nd
Last 7: 32, 1, 4, 1, 4, 4, 2
Riviera History: 10, MC, 5, 4, 20, 20
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.59 (-1.41)
Low Round: 63 (R2 2019)
Hi Round: 76 (R2 2021, R3 2021)
Best at Riviera: T4 (2019)

2. Scottie Scheffler

The 26-year-old Texan enters Los Angeles off a repeat win in Phoenix and as the newly-minted world No 1… In his six most recent starts, a T11 in Palm Springs was his worst result… Scheffler has improved in each of his three starts in L.A.: T30 (2020), T20 (2021), T7 (2022)… Sits inside the top 10 on tour in greens hit (4th), total driving (5th), and strokes gained: total (9th).

Odds: 11-1
Book Rank: T2
World Rank: 1st
World/Field Rank: 1st
Last 7: 1, 11, 7, 2, 9, 3, 45
Riviera History: 7, 20, 30
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.58 (-1.42)
Low Round: 65 (R3 2022)
Hi Round: 74 (R2 2021, R3 2021)
Best at Riviera: T7 (2022)

1. Jon Rahm

The world No. 3 was part of the final grouping on Sunday in Phoenix, ultimately finishing solo third, five shots off the pace of winner Scottie Scheffler… Still, the Spaniard now owns four top-4 finishes in five starts on the 2023 season with a T7 his only result outside the fourth spot… He arrives in L.A. once again as a favorite, and it is hard to see him not being in the mix come Sunday… Finished with a tournament-best T5 in 2021… Has posted T21 or better in all four of his attempts at Riviera… Leads the 2023 tour in scoring, money and points.

Odds: 8-1
Book Rank: 1st
World Rank: 3rd
World/Field Rank: 3rd
Last 7: 3, 7, 1, 1, 8, 1, 4
Riviera History: 21, 5, 17, 9
Riviera Scoring Avg: 69.38 (-1.62)
Low Round: 65 (R4 2022)
Hi Round: 73 (R2 2022)
Best at Riviera: T5 (2021)

Next Five: Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim

Joel Cook contributed to this report.