Genesis Invitational: Prediction, Tips and Odds

For the second time this season the PGA Tour heads to Torrey Pines, which steps in to host the Genesis Invitational after the tournament was moved from its traditional Riviera Country Club home following last month's Los Angeles wildfires.

The San Diego venue is best known for hosting the Farmers Insurance Open, which Harris English won last month.

It has also staged two US Opens - the 2008 edition won by Tiger Woods and the 2021 tournament in which Jon Rahm was crowned champion.

While the Farmers Insurance Open takes place across the North and South Courses in order to accommodate a full field, the Genesis Invitational is a Signature Event with a limited 72-man field - though a 36-hole cut will still be used for the weekend - so only the South Course will be required this week, as was the case for both US Opens.

The South Course is a tough par-72 track measuring at 7,765 total yards, although it can be extended beyond 7,800 yards. Long, straight driving is almost essential on a ball-striker's course which tends to separate elite operators from the rest of the pack.

Scottie Scheffler, who skipped the Farmers, is the favourite in his bid to bounce back from last week's poor finish in Phoenix last week and he's followed in the betting by Rory McIlroy, who will take aim at another Signature title after his victory at Pebble Beach a fortnight ago.

Genesis Invitational betting tips and predictions

Rory McIlroy to win - 7/1

As is the case whenever he plays, Scheffler tops the market for another PGA Tour event, but the world No.1, a nine-time worldwide winner last year, has made some uncharacteristic mistakes in both starts since his return from hand surgery.

The 28-year-old is an obvious title contender if he can iron out the errors, but it's McIlroy who looks the better value option at a rain-softened venue which will play into the hands of those who drive the ball a long way.

The big stick remains McIlroy's most potent weapon and, while he successfully reined himself in at times at Pebble Beach, he drove the ball superbly when required on the way to posting a two-shot success at the AT&T Pro-Am.

From September onwards, the Northern Irishman has compiled form figures of 2-2-25-3-1-4-1, a remarkable run which only Scheffler can rival, and much of that has been built around his prodigious driving.

While Torrey Pines hasn't been a regular stop on his schedule in recent years, he has played in three editions of the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing fifth, third and 16th, while he was also seventh in the 2021 US Open.

Tony Finau to win and each-way - 40/1

Once a model of consistency, Tony Finau has made an up-and-down start to the year, including when missing the cut in the Farmers three weeks ago, due in the main to a poor week on the greens.

However, the Utah giant bounced back to finish 13th at Pebble Beach, which is a far from ideal venue for his skillset, and his previous trips to Torrey have underlined his suitability for this week's test.

Finau is a Farmers Insurance regular, teeing it up 11 times in the San Diego tournament and posting a top-10 finish on six occasions, including last year.

Justin Rose to win and each-way - 110/1

Justin Rose is not the force he once was, but the Englishman looks overpriced this week on his first start since he finished third behind McIlroy at Pebble Beach.

Like Finau, Rose failed to make the weekend at Torrey Pines last month, but he possesses an excellent course record, winning the 2019 Farmers and finishing in the top 10 on three other occasions over the last decade.

It's perhaps no surprise that Rose, a former US Open champion who relishes tough courses, has been seen at his best in elite events over the last 12 months, finishing sixth at the PGA Championship and second in The Open Championship. 

Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site

Genesis Invitational odds

Scottie Scheffler	17/4
Rory McIlroy	7/1
Collin Morikawa	14/1
Justin Thomas	18/1
Hideki Matsuyama	20/1
Ludvig Aberg	22/1
Patrick Cantlay	28/1
Sungjae Im	33/1
Tony Finau	35/1
Tommy Fleetwood	35/1

View the full market and more odds for the Genesis Invitational on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.