Genesis Invitational Picks and Betting Preview

Xander Schauffele has once again broken my heart. For the second straight year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and for what feels like the 50th time in my golf betting career, Schauffele stumbled down the stretch and barely missed out on a win.

Now, we have to dust ourselves off and get ready to bet on this week's Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. The field is even stronger than last week's Phoenix Open, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa making their 2022 PGA Tour debut.

Here are the top 10 odds to win via WynnBET Sportsbook.

Odds to Win the Genesis Invitational

• Jon Rahm +900
• Patrick Cantlay +1200
• Dustin Johnson +1600
• Justin Thomas +1600
• Collin Morikawa +1800
• Xander Schauffele +1800
• Rory McIlroy +1800
• Hideki Matsuyama +2000
• Cameron Smith +2200
• Viktor Hovland +2200

How to Handicap the Riviera Country Club

Riviera Country Club is a par 71 that measures around 7,300 yards. It's one of the tougher courses on the PGA Tour's schedule, with fairways and greens in regulation hitting well below the Tour average.

The best way to describe this course, is that it's a ball strikers track that has a unique twist that demands strong around-the-green play. If there's one type of golfer you want to avoid this week, it's golfers like Viktor Hovland who struggle with their chipping at times. The greens are hard to hit in regulation, and even harder to get up and down when you miss them.

Accurate ball strikers and golfers with a strong short game should be targeted this week.

Key Stats for the Genesis Invitational

• Ball Striking
• Strokes gained: approach-the-green
• Strokes gained: around-the-green
• Scrambling %
• Strokes gained: Putting

Picks to Win the Genesis Invitational

Dustin Johnson +1600 (1 unit)

Dustin Johnson presents a ton of value this week, as he's historically dominated at Riviera Country Club. He's only competed twice this PGA Tour season, but he finished T8 at the Asian Tour's Saudi International two weeks ago, so it seems like he's rounding into form.

It's quite simple, nobody has performed better than DJ at Riviera dating back to 2009.

Johnson has finished in the top 10 in seven of his last eight starts at Riviera, and the only time that he didn't finish in the top 10, he finished 16th. You'd be silly to not at least sprinkle on DJ this week.

Sungjae Im +3500 (0.5 unit)

Sungjae Im took a few weeks off, which is uncharacteristic for the road warrior who seemingly plays in almost every event on Tour, but he's back for this week's big tournament. He already has a win on the year, and he's finished in the top 20 in six of his eight starts.

The most promising thing about his game this week is that he ranks third on the Tour in strokes gained: around-the-green and fourth in strokes gained: tee-to-green. People have seemingly forgot about Im since he's taken a few weeks off, but the rest likely did him well. I'm ready to take a shot at him to win this week's Genesis Invitational.

Mackenzie Hughes +8000 (0.5 Unit)

Mackenzie Hughes had a solid outing at the Genesis Invitational last year, finishing in 32nd place. I think he can build on that performance this season, especially with how his short game has performed as of late. He ranks 19th in strokes gained: around-the-green and fourth in strokes gained: putting.

If he can find some consistency with his irons, Hughes will be a sneaky dark horse bet. Don't count out the Canadian at Riviera.

Iain's golf betting record in 2022 is 20-51-2 (-9.62 units). You can find his detailed record here.