Genesis Invitational: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The PGA Tour heads into its third signature event of the year this week, but there is an enforced change of venue for the Genesis Invitational.

The tournament has been played at Riviera County Club since 1999, but that will not be possible this year due to the damage caused by the wildfires in Pacific Palisades.

So, instead, 72 players will take on the challenge of the Torrey Pines South course at a venue which hosted the Farmers Insurance Open just three weeks ago.

The quality of the field will be substantially stronger with, as has become customary in such events on the PGA Tour, world number one Scottie Scheffler (+400) and Rory McIlroy (+700) at the head of the market.

McIlroy should be especially confident after he triumphed at his most recent outing at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, while favorite Scheffler will want to bounce back from an underwhelming 25th at last week’s Phoenix Open.

However, this looks like being more than a two-man race and there looks to be value found further down the list of competitors, although 15-time Major winner Tiger Woods has now pulled out of the tournament following the recent passing of his mother.

Genesis Invitational betting picks and predictions

Collin Morikawa each-way (+1400)

Bettors do not need to travel too far down to find the ideal candidate to triumph at Torrey Pines as the need for accurate iron play on a long course should suit Collin Morikawa, who is third in the betting.

The two-time Major winner has been ticking along nicely having finished as the best scorer in the 72 holes at the Tour Championship and he has settled quickly into 2025.

He was second at The Sentry behind Hideki Matsuyama at the first tournament of the year in Hawaii and his 17th in his subsequent effort at Pebble Beach was not too bad.

Morikawa missed the cut at last year’s Farmers Insurance Open, but this is a venue at which he has performed well in the past.

He was third when Max Homa won two years ago and was fourth at the 2021 US Open, won by Jon Rahm, dragging himself back into contention after an opening 75.

He has been the best tee-to-green performer on the PGA Tour this season and that should stand him in good stead.

Taylor Pendrith each-way (+3000)

Taylor Pendrith is turning into a regular contender for PGA Tour glory and after winning the CJ Cup in May, a first 2025 triumph may not be far away.

The Canadian hopeful has shown great consistency lately as he has finished in the top 25 in 10 of his last 11 tournaments and he has performed well in the elite, signature events, with a 13th spot at The Sentry and ninth at Pebble Beach.

He was seventh at Torrey Pines three weeks ago when he was the sixth-best player off the tee and the second best from tee to green, so he would probably reflect in disappointment at his second-round 75.

He had finished ninth the previous year at the same tournament, so he has demonstrated that he is able to cope with the demands of this California track and it would not be a huge surprise if he played himself into contention this week.

Sam Stevens each-way (+6600)

Ludvig Aberg has the game to be a threat at Torrey Pines, but he is swerved this week after he was forced to withdraw at Pebble Beach with flu and, while South Korea’s Sungjae Im would hope to improve upon the fourth spot he secured at the Farmers, his two subsequent appearances have been disappointing.

The third selection goes to Sam Stevens, who finished a shot behind winner Harris English at the Farmers last month.

His worst round of his four came at the North course, which will not be used this week and Stevens’ closing 68 was the best among the field on the final day.

He should also take confidence from the fact he shot an opening 66 at the venue on his way to finishing 13th in 2023, and he showed his ability among signature-event company a fortnight ago when he was 17th at Pebble Beach.

Although Stevens was 44th at Phoenix last week, that does not tell the whole story as he did shoot two rounds of 67 at Southwind and, as the best tee-to-green performer at Torrey Pines three weeks ago and the third best approach player, he could put up another strong challenge.

Genesis Invitational outright odds

Scottie Scheffler	+400
Rory McIlroy	+700
Collin Morikawa	+1400
Ludvig Aberg	+1800
Hideki Matsuyama	+2000
Justin Thomas	+2200
Sungjae Im	+3000

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.