The PGA Tour heads back to California, after a disastrous week across the border in Arizona, for the Genesis Invitational at historic Riveria Country Club.
The long-running tournament, now a Signature Event, is the finale of the five-event “West Coast Swing,” and provides yet another opportunity for the players to rack up some serious early-season money and FedExCup points.
Defending champion Jon Rahm, and Joaquin Niemann, who won here in 2022, have been banned by the PGA Tour for teeing it up in LIV Golf events, so the tournament will be without its two most recent champions.
Fear not: tournament host Tiger Woods makes his 2024 debut and will be joined by several of the tour’s marquee players, headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
As we do each week, here’s a rundown of facts and figures to get you prepped for the PGA Tour’s week in Los Angeles.
The Skinny
The Genesis Invitational
Dates:Â Feb. 15-18, 2024
PGA Tour Debut: 1926
PGA TOUR Week: 7th (of 34)
Course:Â Riviera CC
Where: Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Distance: Par 71/7322 yards
Architect: George Thomas Jr., William Bell (1926)
Field: 134 players
Format: Low stroke, 72-holes
Cut: After 36 holes
Purse: $20,000,000
Winning Share: $3,600,000
FedExCup Pts: 700
OWGR Pts: 65
2023 Champion:Â Jon Rahm
How to Follow The Genesis Invitational
TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 4-8 p.m. (GOLF); Sat: 1-3 p.m. (GOLF); 3-7 p.m. (CBS); Sun: 1-3 (GOLF), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS)
PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 9:45 a.m.-8 p.m. ET (ESPN+); Sat: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (ESPN+); Sun: 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
RADIO: Thu-Fri: 2-8 p.m.; Sat: 2-7 p.m.; Sun: 1-6:30 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM)
LINKS: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X
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 (a neighborhood in the west-side region of L.A.) 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.
Macdonald Smith and Lloyd Mangrum – two great, but largely forgotten, players – share the all-time wins record with four (4) titles apiece.
Other notable tournament winners include Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott and Dustin Johnson.
The Los Angeles Open 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 opening rounds of 81 and 84 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, the amateur Woods shot 72-75 (+5) to miss the cut.
Riviera Country Club, has hosted three major championships, most recently the 1995 PGA Championship, claimed 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 elite invitational stops. In 2022 it became one of the tour’s “elevated” events, offering a $20 million purse and $3.6 million to the winner.
History: Tournament Titles
Genesis Invitational (2020-Present)
Genesis Open (2017-19)
Northern Trust Open (2008-16)
Nissan Open (1995-07)
Nissan Los Angeles Open (1989-94)
Los Angeles Open presented by Nissan (1987-88)
Los Angeles Open (1984-86)
Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open (1971-83)
Los Angeles Open (1926-70)
History: Recent Champions
2023: Jon Rahm (-17)
2022: Joaquin Niemann (-19)
2021: Max Homa (-12)
2020: Adam Scott (-11)
2019: J.B. Holmes (-14)
2018: Bubba Watson (-12)
2017: Dustin Johnson (-17)
2016: Bubba Watson (-15)
2015: James Hahn (-6)
2014: Bubba Watson (-15)
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)
Genesis Invitational Field
The field this week in Los Angeles will exclude some of the world’s most familiar golf stars, including Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, and Patrick Reed, who have all been banned by the PGA for competing on the LIV Golf tour.
The field this week, though, will feature PGA Tour headliners such as Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth, Wyndham Clark, Justin Thomas and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Other marquee names include Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, and Tiger Woods, among others.
Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Scottie Scheffler (7-1)
2. Rory McIlroy (11-1)
3. Viktor Hovland (15-1)
4. Justin Thomas (16-1)
4. Xander Schauffele (16-1)
Full Field & Odds
Genesis Invitational | Riviera CC | Pacific Palisades, CA | Feb 15-18, 2024
