Golf Tips: Genesis Invitational Preview & Predictions

The PGA Tour is back in the Golden State this week for the Genesis Invitational hosted by Tiger Woods at Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.

The 120 field, with the top 65 progressing to the weekend, will all be competing for a share of the generous $12m prize purse with the winner collecting the title and a cool  $2.16m.

This is a par 71, parkland track where accuracy will be key to any success come Sunday.

The world's top ten ranked players, in fact make that eleven, will all be in attendance at Riviera this week making it the strongest field ever for this event, maybe Tiger had some influence over the invitations.

Max Homa returns to defend his title when beating my selection Tony Finau in a play-off at last years event.

There will be multiple course winners teeing off at Riviera including Bubba Watson (three times) and Adam Scott (twice).

The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm throughout with only gentle breezes to contend with.

This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf & Sky Sports Main Event with live coverage starting at 14.30pm GMT on Thursday afternoon.

Before I continue, it was good to get back in the winner's enclosure last weekend after hitting the bar on a few occasions already this year.

We are only a few weeks into the 2022 golfing calendar and it’s always good to get the first winner of the year at such a tricky time to single out winners.

It’s more about keeping an eye on the radar and doing the homework to see who’s on form and firing on all cylinders. Scottie Scheffler was certainly all of the above winning his maiden PGA crown at the Phoenix Open last Sunday, a well deserved victory at that and one I’m sure nobody would begrudge the talented 25 year old from Dallas, Texas.

I said he would win soon and I wasn’t missing out, well I never and neither did lots of you. Well done to each and every one of you who collected at a generous 25/1.

As I always mention when singling out winners, it’s what makes it all worthwhile, helping out our amazing MFT community to bash the bookie, something we’ve got good at on this fantastic website. I’ll continue to try my best and pick out more winners throughout the year to the delight of us all and keep those bookies scratching their heads and emptying those satchels.

So let’s move on with this weeks selections for the Genesis Invitational and see if we can double up from last weekend.

Marc Leishman

For my first and main selection I’m going to single out Marc Leishman 55/1 EW Paddy Power 1-8 places. These are really good odds if you ask me for the talented 38 year old Aussie, especially considering you have eight places for added insurance.

Just a place would return a price around the 10/1 mark and with a smaller than usual field this represents terrific value.

Leishman has been in good form recently with three Top 10 finishes at his last eight attempts. T10th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, T4th at the Fortinet Championship and an even better T3rd at the Shriners Children’s Open. He also has two recent Top 20 finishes, 16th at the Farmers Insurance just a couple of weeks back and also 19th at the Houston Open, just a  couple of weeks before that.

Leishman hasn’t missed a cut since last year's Open Championship at Royal St George's so he is consistent and reliable to make the weekend and put himself in prime position to challenge for another title.

With five PGA crowns already, Leishman has all the experience and expertise to get the job done this weekend at tasty odds so lick your lips now and back Marc Lieshman to win the Genesis Invitational, safe in the knowledge that a top eight finish is also a 10/1 winner.

Bubba Watson

For my next suggestion I’m going to advise the ever popular Bubba Watson 45/1 EW Bet365.

The 43 year old from Florida is a three time course champion at Riviera and my advice is ignore that at your peril.

Bubba has seen a recent return to form and this is just the venue to get him back to winning ways. He will simply relish the test at Riviera this week, it’s no fluke winning on the same track three times.

Bubba was T14th with -11 on the scorecard at last week's Phoenix Open and before that he was runner up at the Saudi International. Also recently he was T6th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic so the clues are there if your looking.

Bubba will be more than keen to get back inside the World's Top 50 with its many privileges, currently ranked 53rd and I can only see him moving up the rankings, starting this weekend.

With far too many PGA Tour victories to mention and The Masters fast approaching, the two-time major champion, both at Augusta in 2012 & 2014 will be looking to impress just in time for April.

Bubba can do just that with yet another victory to make it four at this venue and win another PGA Title, his first since 2018.

Dustin Johnson

For my next pick I’m liking the look of Dustin Johnson 16/1 EW Bet365. The humble 37 year old from Carolina, currently the 6th best player on the planet, is due a win anytime soon and it’s not far away, possibly this weekend so I don’t want to miss out.

With five Top Ten finishes at the last nine times of asking, DJ is back where he belongs, lurking around the top of leaderboards.

He was T8th last time out after a long journey to defend his title at the Saudi International. Conditions will more than suit DJ this weekend and this Riviera track is all set up for his game and a return to glory.

Again, with The Masters just around the corner, DJ will be aiming to wear the green jacket for the second time in as many years.

He always hits a rich vein of form around about now so take notice and don’t rule out Johnson this weekend. A winner of this event in 2017 and with five top five finishes in seven attempts, if anyone's going to be challenging on the back nine on Sunday then it has to be Johnson.

I can only see DJ being a danger from start to finish this week at Riviera, he could even go one further and do what he’s done so many times in the past and run away with this. Keep that in mind as a possibility with also end of round leader prices to consider.

Bubba Watson v Max Homa

For my final selection it’s the customary matchbet and this week I’m going to select Bubba Watson again but this time to beat the defending champion Max Homa over the 72 holes 10/11 Betfair,Nap.

Genesis Invitational Tips

• Marc Leishman , 55/1 EW Paddy Power. 1-8 places
• Bubba Watson 45/1 EW Bet365
• Dustin Johnson 16/1 EW Bet365
• Bubba Watson to best  Max Homa 10/11 Nap Betfair . 72 hole matchbet

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