DraftKings PGA: 2020 Genesis Invitational picks and analysis
"PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods walk off the 10th hole tee box during the continuation of the first round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 15, 2019 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR)"
DraftKings PGA: 2020 Genesis Invitational picks and analysis
World 226 Nick Taylor, World 76 Phil Mickelson and World 46 Jason Day entered the final round within 3-shots of one another. Sunday was cold and windy at Pebble Beach, and the course played difficult. Nick Taylor took home the trophy, shooting a 19-under for the tournament. Congrats to Nick Taylor on having more victories than Tony Finau! I am glad we leaned heavily on course history this week and not recent results. Remember next year that course stacking is very valuable at this event – golfers starting at MP and SH littered the leaderboard, while those starting at PB struggled to make the cut due to the Saturday winds! Enough with Pebble Beach though, the Tiger Woods Invitational (2020 Genesis Invitational at Riviera) is this week!
The Tour stays in California again this week, moving from Pebble Beach to Riviera Country Club, just outside of LA. Riviera has hosted the tournament 56 times. And lucky for all of you reading this, the Genesis Invitational is one of my favorite events of the season! Riviera is a very difficult course. It is long (7,349 yards), there are trees lining most of the small fairways, the Poa greens are small and fast (56% GIR in 2018), the field is very strong, and the Kikuyu grass can fluster even the best short games. Riviera is a par 71, boasting 3 par-5 holes all over 550 yards.
The 2019 Genesis Invitational featured a final round duel between a 17-under Justin Thomas and a 13-under JB Holmes. It did not go how you may imagine. JB shot a final round 70, while JT shot a 75 to lose to JB by one stroke (14-under). The 2018 edition of the Genesis Open saw Bubba Watson capture his 3rd victory at the Genesis Open (he won in 2014 and 2016). Bubba finished at -12, two strokes better than Finau and Na. Dustin Johnson captured the 2017 title, shooting a -17 and blitzing the field by 5 strokes.
Riviera favors bombers and ball-strikers. Around the green on this Kikuyu grass is extremely difficult, so you better be sticking your approaches (unless you are an Aussie and used to the stuff). Shorter hitters that can keep the ball in the fairway have also had some success at Riviera.
2020 Genesis Invitational Key Stats
Approach Gained
Ball Striking Gained
Fairways Gained
Scrambling Gained
Bogey Avoidance Gained
Poa Gained