⛳ Genesis Invitational: Key takeaways
- Best early bet: Scottie Scheffler to win outright (+300) – The World No. 1 is on an otherworldly heater and is a perfect course fit for Riviera.
- Best early value: Viktor Hovland to win outright (+3500) – Proven winner has finished Top 20 in all four trips to this track.
- Course: The Riviera Country Club is long and demands elite tee-to-green play, and course experience has proven critical.
- Weather: Rain early in the week could extend to Thursday’s Round 1 ahead of a clear and dry weekend.
- Expected cut: This Signature Event features a 36-hole cut to the Top 50 and ties, plus any player within 10 shots of the lead.
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Genesis Invitational odds: favorites & full field
The Genesis Invitational runs February 19-22 at Riviera Country Club. Below are the latest outright odds, followed by the picks and market-by-market best bets we like this week.
| Golfer |  |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +300 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1800 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +2000 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
| Russell Henley | +2500 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2800 |
| Si Woo Kim | +2800 |
| Cameron Young | +3300 |
| Chris Gotterup | +3300 |
| Jake Knapp | +3300 |
| Justin Rose | +3300 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +3300 |
| Sam Burns | +3300 |
| Maverick McNealy | +3300 |
| Viktor Hovland | +3500 |
| Sepp Straka | +4000 |
| Ben Griffin | +4000 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +4000 |
Check out the full Genesis Invitational field here.
Best bets card
- Outright: Scottie Scheffler (+300) – World No. 1 is on an otherworldly heater and is a perfect course fit for Riviera.
- Outright: Viktor Hovland (+3500) – Proven winner remains an elite ball striker with four Top 20s in this event in four trips.
Course breakdown: What wins at Genesis Invitational?
If you ask me, Johnny Miller summed it up perfectly, saying Riviera “requires a player to use every club in his bag and every shot in his game.”
Designed by G.C.Thomas Jr. and W.P. Bell, the 7,300-yard Par 71 is a demanding track with treelined fairways and difficult-to-read Poa Annua greens. Be ready to hear all about the sticky and gnarly Kikuyugrass rough, too, as misplaced shots are all the more difficult to recover.
Course knowledge and experience count, and it’s also no wonder recent winners include major champions Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson.
Distance is a huge plus, but accuracy off the tee is also critical. Additionally, the winner has gained true strokes putting each of the past nine years, so successfully navigating the greens is a must, especially from the five- to 10-foot range.
Finally, I also value that each of the past five winners has finished Top 3 in true strokes gained tee-to-green.
- Demanding looks off the tee with windy, treelined fairways
- Kikuyugrass rough is penalizing
- Poa Annua greens are difficult to read
- The Par 4 10th is drivable
Players to watch
- Scottie Scheffler: Perfect course set up for the World No. 1.
- Patrick Cantlay: Consecutive Top 5s at Riviera and strong California track record.
- Rory McIlroy: One of the few who can truly overpower this track.
Key stats & player profiles to target
- True strokes gained tee-to-green
- Approaches from 150-175 yards, and 175-200 yards
- True strokes gained putting
- Bogey avoidance
Players to watch
- Scottie Scheffler: True strokes gained on approaches in all six trips to Riviera.
- Viktor Hovland: Four straight Top 20s with true strokes gained on approach in each.
- Collin Morikawa: Paced the field in true strokes gained tee-to-green to win last week.
Odds movement & market notes
I'm not expecting to see huge moves in the odds leading into The Genesis Invitational because it's the second consecutive Signature Event on the PGA Tour, and the two fields are almost identical. Additionally, I'm going to the top of the board with Scottie Scheffler to headline my bettor card, so more long shots and/or fewer outright wagers will be in play this week.
Outright picks: winners to bet
Pick 1: Scottie Scheffler to win (+300)
Scottie Scheffler is on a massive heater and Riviera is a nearly perfect setup for his elite tee-to-green game.
- Course Fit: Has gained true strokes on approach in each visit here
- Recent Form: World No. 1 has 19 consecutive Top 10s with seven wins
- Market Value: Price is fair given the form and course fit
Risk: Short return on +300 odds means more risk.
Pick 2: Viktor Hovland to win (+3500)
Viktor Hovland is a ball-striking wizard who has gained true strokes on approach in nine consecutive events to rank sixth in this field in the metric.
- Course Fit: Top 20s in all four trips to Riviera
- Recent Form: Six Top 15s across past eight events
- Market Value: Solid return for a proven winner
Risk: Hovland wasn't as sharp last week at Pebble Beach.
How to watch & tee times
How to watch (All Times ET):
- Thursday-Friday: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Golf Channel)
- Saturday: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Golf Channel); 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (CBS)
- Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Golf Channel); 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (CBS)
Tee times:
- Round 1 tee times for The Genesis Invitational should be released on the PGA Tour website on Tuesday, February 17.
Genesis Invitational betting FAQ
When is the 2026 Genesis Invitational?
The 2026 edition of The Genesis Invitational is Thursday, Feb. 19, to Sunday, Feb. 22.
Where will the 2026 Genesis Invitational be played?
The 2026 Genesis Invitational will be played at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.
Who is the 2026 Genesis Invitational favorite?
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is a +300 betting favorite to win The 2026 Genesis Invitational.
What are the Genesis Invitational FRL markets?
First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which player(s) will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.
How do Genesis Invitational matchup bets work?
When betting Genesis Invitational matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two players listed in that specific market.
What is the Genesis Invitational cut line?
This is a Signature Event featuring a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties, plus any player within 10 shots of the lead. The cut line was +2 at Riviera when it hosted the Genesis in 2024.
Are Genesis Invitational odds the same across all sportsbooks?
You'll see slight variations in odds across sportsbooks for The Genesis Invitational; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
