The Genesis Invitational Picks (TIGER IS BACK and How to Bet)
There’s no sense burying the lede here, so let’s get on out with it: TIGER WOODS IS BACK!
Woods hasn’t played competitive golf since participating in The Open at St. Andrews Links (Old Course) last July, missing the cut with a 78-75, but he’ll be in the field at The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.
It’s a stacked field aside from Woods, too, with much of the field from last week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open back in contention again, including 23 of the top 25 golfers in the Official Golf World Ranking.
Let’s get into my best bets for the Genesis Invitational, provided by BetMGM and DraftKings sportsbooks.
Tiger to make the cut +150 (BetMGM)
It isn’t much fun to bet against the GOAT, so let’s try for a bet on Woods that isn’t too hard to win. BetMGM has the odds set at +150 for him to make the cut and -200 for him to miss.
Even with a stacked field playing at a course where Woods has never won, I'm still taking him to make the cut.
Woods announced that he’s ready for PGA Tour golf again this past week, and it’s hard not to believe him. Even last year, a visibly-hindered Woods made the cut at the Masters and at the PGA Championship before fading at The Open.
Even a diminshed Tiger can still play with the best for two rounds. Anything beyond that, though, is pushing your luck.
Sungjae Im Top 20 +260 (DraftKings)
Im has been one of the most consistent players on tour over the past few months — placing top 20 in five of his past six events.
He finished T4 at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and then placed T6 the WM Phoenix Open this past weekend, shooting one round over 70 across those two tournaments.
At 24 years old, Im is primed for a breakout, and it could materialize this weekend.
Im gained strokes on the field in every category this past weekend — putting, around-the-green, approach shots and off-the-tee — and he finished with a 5-under T-33 at this event last year.
Max Homa to win +2000 (DraftKings)
It was only two years ago that Homa won this event to notch his second-ever win on the PGA Tour.
In the time since, he’s added on four more victories, including the Fortinet Championship last September and the Farmers Insurance Open in late January.
That Farmers win was only two events ago and Homa played well at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in early January, too, shooting a 23-under to finish T3.
Homa got off to ANOTHER strong start this past weekend, easily making the cut with a 69-69 before fading with a 71-72.
It’s not as if Homa has only had success at Riviera once, either. Last year, he finished T10 with a 10-under. In 2020, he finished with a T5 8-under.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.