Genesis Invitational Best Betting Picks: Scottie Scheffler Headlines Return to Riviera

The Genesis Invitational is back at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades after a one-year hiatus due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles 13 months ago. Last year’s tournament was held down the freeway at Torrey Pines, located just north of San Diego.

Collin Morikawa won at Pebble Beach last weekend to end a stretch of 46 straight winless events but momentum doesn’t always follow along in golf. Scottie Scheffler has never won at Riviera, but he’s a big threat any time he’s registered to play.

Chris Gotterup is an early season surprise so a hot start by him would surely attract attraction. Golfers further out of the limelight often lead or share the lead after the first round so expect that possibility at the par-71, 7,383-yard course.

Scottie Scheffler ready to end Riviera drought

Scheffler has 20 career victories despite still being four months shy of turning 30 and he’s off to a good start this season with one victory and two other top-five finishes, including tying for fourth at Pebble Beach. Furthermore, he’s won seven of his last 16 tournaments so you have to figure he’s going to at least be in the mix on the back nine on Sunday.

Scheffler has finished in the top 10 just twice in six trips around Riviera. His best showing was a tie for seventh in 2022. It almost seems like he’s due for a big breakthrough this week.

Scheffler is +295 to win, -152 to place in the top five and -320 to finish in the top 10. The odds aren’t worth it unless you take Scheffler to win the event. He’s going to do so at some point and now is the right time.

Scottie Scheffler to win the tournament: +295 (DraftKings)

Candidates for a top-10 finish

Morikawa (+2900 to win) fired a 22-under 266 for a one-shot victory at Pebble Beach to win a tournament for the first time since winning the ZOZO Championship in October 2023. It is the 29-year-old’s seventh career victory and will surely boost his confidence and make him a contender this week.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (+1300) hasn’t had much success at Riviera, tying for 24th in 2024 in the last tournament in the Palisades, tying for 29th in 2023 and even missing the cut in 2021. He tied for 14th at Pebble Beach and is winless in his last 11 events since his memorable Masters victory last April.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (+2100) won the tournament the last time it was at Riviera in 2024 with a 17-under 267. He has two top-10 finishes in four events this season and it will be no surprise to see him make a charge. Also keep an eye on Gotterup (+3000), who has two victories already this season.

Collin Morikawa to finish in top 5: +460 (DraftKings)

Flying under the radar

Max Homa (+7600) won the event in 2021 and would need to pick up his play. But he’s well-rested after being ineligible to play at Pebble Beach due to a poor 2025. Then again, he missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines in late January and tied for 66th at the Phoenix Open the following week.

Sepp Straka (+4300) tied for second at Pebble Beach with an impressive 66-66-67-68 and has seven straight sub-70 rounds. The Austrian missed the cut at Riviera in 2024 so it may be hard to bottle last week’s showing.

Harris English (+3900) has finished in the top 30 in all four of his events this season but hasn’t broken the top 20. But that second-round 63 at Pebble Beach might be a sign his game is on the rise. Two years ago, he finished solo seventh at Riviera so the course may be to his liking this year too.

Harris English to finish in top 10: +245 (DraftKings)