The 98th edition of the Genesis Invitational will transpire at Torrey Pines South Course Thursday and continue into Sunday as players will compete for the $4 million first place prize money that is offered in this player sponsored event that is hosted by Tiger Woods, who will not be playing due to the passing of his mother Tida, who passed away last Tuesday, Feb. 4th, at 78.

The tournament is traditionally held at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA., but out of respect for the victims of the L.A. wildfires, the Tour chose to move the tournament to San Diego and famed Torrey Pines South Course. Riviera is historic as well, but the situation was not conducive to hosting a tournament there.

Seventy two players will compete at Torrey South Course (7,765 yards, Par 72), with a 36 hole cut with the top 50 and ties qualifying for the weekend. 

Hideki Matsuyama is the defending champion. The total purse is $20 million with the winner taking home 20% ($4M) as will be customary for the player-sponsored signature events. The same will be true for the Arnie Invitational (March 6th-9th), and the Memorial, Jack’s tournament (May 29th-June 1st). The other five pay out 18% to first place, or $3.6 Million. They are the Sentry, played in early January with Hideki winning, the AT&T Pebble Beach, two weeks ago, won by Rory, the RBC Heritage (April 17th-20th, a week after the Masters), the Truist Championship (in Philly, May 8th-11th the week before the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow), and the Travelers Championship (June 19th-22nd, the week after the U.S. Open at Oakmont CC).

Last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Belgian Thomas Detry put on a golfing clinic as he shot 65 on Sunday and birdied his last 4 holes to finish at 24 under par, seven shots clear of second place finishers Michael Kim and Daniel Berger. He birdied 18 from 10 feet to close out his prolific performance. It was a terrific display of golf from the 32 year old out of Brussels.

Odds

Scottie Scheffler, 3/1

Rory, 7/1

Collin Morikawa, 14/1

Hideki, 22/1

Ludvig Aberg, 25/1

Justin Thomas, 25/1

Sungjae Im, 30/1

Patrick Cantlay, 33/1

Tom Kim, 33/1

Jordan Spieth, 40/1

Jason Day, 40/1

Shane Lowry, 40/1

Tommy Fleetwood, 40/1

Taylor Pendrith, 45/1

Will Zalatoris, 50/1

Rasmus Hojgaard, 50/1

Robert McIntyre, 50/1

Tony Finau, 50/1

Sepp Straka, 50/1

Sam Burns, 55/1

Viktor Hovland, 55/1

Maverick McNealy, 60/1

Thomas Detry, 60/1

Russell Henley, 60/1

Harris English, 60/1

Keegan Bradley, 65/1

Adam Scott, 90/1

Daniel Berger, 100/1 (may be a good value)

Wyndham Clark, 100/1  

It’s worth noting that Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are regaining some of their former prolific form.

Thomas shot a closing 65 last Sunday at Phoenix and eagled number 18 to finish tied for 6th at 15 under. \

Spieth went 68, 65, 67, 68 to finish tied for 4th at -16.

Weather

Thursday, 61, 58% chance of rain, wind S 13 MPH.

Friday, 62, 24% chance, wind WNW 13. Both days gusting up to 24.

Saturday, 63, partly sunny, wind NW 9.

Sunday, 66, Partly cloudy, Wind NW 8.

TV

Thursday/Friday : 3-7 PM CT, Golf Channel

Saturday: 12-2 PM CT GC; 2-6 PM CT, CBS

Sunday: 12-2 PM CT, 2-5:30 PM CT, CBS

Winner

I’m going to take the 28 year old from L.A by way of Cal. He’s leading the tour in birdie average, strokes

gained:Total, Greens in Reg, and is 13th in scrambling. His numbers are excellent and he finished solo third

at the Farmers in 2023, and tied for fourth at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey South. Give me:

Collin Morikawa