2025 Genesis Invitational Preview & Picks

The Genesis Invitational is the seventh event of the 2025 PGA TOUR season and the third of eight Signature Events on the schedule.

Pre-Tournament Storylines:

Thomas Detry wins the WM Phoenix Open

Thomas Detry made history at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open, becoming the first Belgian player to win a PGA Tour event. Detry dominated the tournament, finishing at 24-under par, seven strokes ahead of the nearest competitors, Daniel Berger and Michael Kim. His final-round score of 65 included an impressive birdie on the famous par-3 16th hole, where his shot landed just 16 inches from the cup.

Hideki Matsuyama looks to defend his title at the Genesis

Hideki Matsuyama delivered a stunning performance at the Genesis Invitational in 2024, rallying from six shots back in the final round to secure victory with a remarkable 9-under 62. This win marked his ninth career PGA Tour title, breaking the record for most wins by an Asian-born player. Matsuyama has won twice since capturing last season’s event the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship and the 2025 Sentry.

Genesis Invitational Venue Change

The 2025 Genesis Invitational will be held at the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego after wildfires in Los Angeles caused significant damage to the event’s original venue, Riviera Country Club. This relocation is a one-time adjustment, with the tournament expected to return to Riviera in 2026.

Torrey Pines, a familiar PGA TOUR stop, is best known for hosting the Farmers Insurance Open as well as the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens. This marks the first time since 2020 that two different PGA TOUR events will be played at the same venue in the same season—when Muirfield Village Golf Club hosted both the Workday Charity Open and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday in back-to-back weeks.

Tiger Woods Withdraws

Tiger Woods has announced his withdrawal from the 2025 Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, citing the need to process the recent passing of his mother, Kultida Woods. In a heartfelt statement, Woods shared that while he had done his best to prepare, he ultimately did not feel ready to compete. He expressed gratitude for the support and kindness from fans and the golf community and mentioned that he hopes to attend the event later in the week.

Woods’ last competitive appearance on the PGA TOUR was at The 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, where he missed the cut.

Tournament Information:

• Dates: February 13th – February 16th, 2025
• Location: La Jolla, California, United States
• Course: Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)
• Course Type: Coastal
• Par: 72 (4x 3’s / 10x 4’s / 4x 5’s)
• Length: 7,765 yards
• Format: 72-hole stroke play
• Greens: Poa annua .095”
• Fairways: Ryegrass overseed .425”
• Rough: Ryegrass overseed 4”
• Bunkers: 82
• Water Hazard(s): 1 (In-Play on 1 Holes)
• Average Green Size: 5,000 sq. ft.
• Stimpmeter: 11.5 ft.
• Purse/ Winner: $20,000,000 /$4,000,000
• FedEx Cup Points: 700
• Field: 72 Players
• Cut: Top 50 and Ties and any additional players within 10 strokes of the 36-hole lead – 36 Holes
• Playoff Format: Sudden Death – 18, 18, then 16, 17, 18 repeated
• Course Scoring Average:
  • 2025: 73.69 (+1.69), Rank 1 of 10
  • 2024: 72.40 (+0.40), Rank 9 of 51 
  • 2023: 73.62 (+1.62), Rank 4 of 49

Social Media:

• Course X: N/A
• Tournament X: @thegenesisinv

Course Information:

Course Architect:

• Course Architect: William P. Bell and William F. Bell (1957)
• Renovations: Rees Jones (2001, 2019)

Comparable Courses:

• Riviera Country Club – The Genesis Invitational – RESULTS
• Los Angeles Country Club – 2023 U.S. Open – RESULTS
• TPC Harding Park – 2020 PGA Championship – RESULTS

Comparable Location (La Jolla, California, United States):

• PGA West – La Quinta, California – The American Express
• Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
• The Riviera Country Club – Pacific Palisades, California – The Genesis Invitational
• Silverado Resort and Spa – Napa, California – Procore Championship
• Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood) – Truckee, California – Barracuda Championship

Designer Link (Rees Jones (2001, 2019)):

• East Lake Golf Club – Rees Jones Renovation (1994,2008,2016) – TOUR Championship

Comparable Yardage (7,765 Yards):

• Corales Golf Course – 7,670 Yards – Corales Puntacana Championship

Comparable Greens (Poa annua .095”):

• Spyglass Hill GC – Poa annua .100” – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
• Riviera CC – Poa annua .100” – The Genesis Invitational
• Pebble Beach Golf Links – Poa annua – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Comparable Average Green Size (5,000 sq. ft.):

• Spyglass Hill Golf Course – 5,000 sq. ft. – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
• Colonial Country Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – Charles Schwab Challenge
• Muirfield Village Golf Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – the Memorial Tournament
• TPC River Highlands – 5,000 sq. ft. – Travelers Championship

TV Information (all times ET):

• Round 1: Thursday, February 13th, 2025
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 12:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Round 2: Friday, February 14th, 2025
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 12:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Round 3: Saturday, February 15th, 2025
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • CBS – 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Round 4: Sunday, February 16th, 2025
  • ESPN + (PGA TOUR Live) – 9:30 APM – 1:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • CBS – 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Weather:

Course/ Tournament History:

The Genesis Invitational, originally known as the Los Angeles Open, is one of the PGA TOUR’s longest-running and most prestigious events. First played in 1926 at Los Angeles Country Club, the tournament rotated between Wilshire Country Club, Hillcrest Country Club, and Rancho Park Golf Course before finding a permanent home at Riviera Country Club in 1973—with the exception of this year.

Over the years, the event has seen several name and sponsorship changes, becoming the Nissan Open in 1995, the Northern Trust Open in 2008, and finally the Genesis Open in 2017. In 2020, it was elevated to Invitational status, reducing the field size and increasing the purse, further cementing its status as one of the premier stops on the PGA TOUR.

The South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course, located along the stunning cliffs of La Jolla, California, is one of the most renowned public golf courses in the world. Originally designed by William F. Bell in 1957, it underwent a major renovation by Rees Jones in 2001 to prepare it for hosting major championships. Known for its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and its challenging layout, the South Course has become a staple on the PGA Tour, serving as the primary venue for the Farmers Insurance Open. Its reputation as a demanding test of golf reached new heights when it hosted the unforgettable 2008 U.S. Open, where Tiger Woods triumphed in a dramatic playoff against Rocco Mediate, and again during the 2021 U.S. Open, where Jon Rahm claimed his first major title. With narrow fairways, deep rough, and lightning-fast greens, the South Course has earned its place as one of the toughest and most iconic layouts in professional golf.

Previous Tournament Venues:

Previous Tournament Names:

Tournament Records:

• 72-Hole Record (Tournament – Genesis Invitational):
  • 264, Lanny Watkins (1985)

• 18-Hole Record (Tournament – Genesis Invitational):
  • 61, George Archer (Round 3, 1983 at Rancho Park GC), Ted Tryba (Round 3, 1999 at Riviera CC)

• Largest Margin of Victory (Tournament – Genesis Invitational):
  • 9 Strokes – Phil Rodgers (1962)

• Most Wins at Event:
  • 4 – Macdonald Smith (1928, 1929, 1932, 1934)

Course Records:

• 18-Hole Record (Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)):
  • 62, Tiger Woods (Round 3, 1999)

Course Guide/ Scorecard:

Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)

The four Par 3’s range from 177 to 227 yards. Earlier this year was at the Farmers Insurance Open, all of the Par 3’s had a scoring average over par.

No. 3, 201 yards, Par 3: Overlooking La Jolla, South Course’s signature Par 3, is the most picturesque of all the Par 3’s on the course. Club selection is of utmost importance as the hole can play as short as a 9 iron, and as long as a hybrid. Playing downhill, a good tee shot will leave you middle of green. Avoid going long here as it will leave you a very difficult pitch to get up and down.

No. 16, 227 yards, Par 3: Two teeing grounds will have a dramatic effect on how this hole is played. The shorter tee, to the left, brings two greenside bunkers into play, but players can aim right and ride the prevailing breeze. The front of the green is open from the longer tee, but the wind can complicate the angle.

There are ten Par 4’s on the South Course at Torrey Pines with the majority of those holes ranging between 450 and 500 yards. In terms of scoring average, the toughest Par 4 on the course earlier this year was at the Farmers Insurance Open was No. 12.

No. 4, 490 yards, Par 4: The second longest of the daunting Par 4’s at Torrey Pines, hole #4 requires a good tee shot that will leave you a long iron or fairway metal into a green protected by a bunker on the left. Play approach to the right of the green to allow the contours of the green complex to feed the ball to the middle of the green. A par here is a good score.

No. 14, 437 yards, Par 4: With the canyon running all along the left of the fairway, players will be sure to play the ball safely out to the right, probably with a fairway wood. The most difficult hole location will be back right, but any shots missed long could result in bogey or worse, as there are hazards just off the back of the green.

There are four Par 5s on the course, No. 6, No. 9, No. 13, and No. 18. All of these holes had a scoring average under par in earlier this year was at the Farmers Insurance Open except for No. 13.

No. 13, 621 yards, Par 5: A new tee has been added, back and to the left, calling for a drive of at least 240 yards to carry the canyon. Should players choose to go for the green in two, they will need to carry the second shot some 260 yards as the green is elevated and protected by bunkers and rough in front.

No. 18, 570 yards, Par 5: The closing hole is a great par 5 – basically straight but with a twist in the drive zone – on which anything can happen. Just ask Bruce Devlin. In contention for the 1975 Andy Williams San Diego Open, the Australian took six hacks to get his ball out of the water in front of the green on his way to making a 10. The pond is now called “Devlin’s Billabong”.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 3

Key Statistics:

The Genesis Invitational takes place on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Here are the key statistics to keep an eye on for this week’s event.

Per DataGolf, this is the favored skillset at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course).

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Success this week will hinge on players’ ability to position themselves effectively off the tee. While the course’s considerable length underscores the significance of distance, precision holds equal importance.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Daniel Berger
    • Sam Stevens
    • Taylor Pendrith
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Gary Woodland
    • Min Woo Lee
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Davis Thompson
    • Kevin Yu
    • Robert MacIntyre

• Strokes Gained: Approach
  • A strong iron game is crucial for success at this event, as demonstrated by recent history.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Lucas Glover
    • Sepp Straka
    • J.J. Spaun
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Gary Woodland
    • Justin Thomas
    • Hideki Matsuyama
    • Tommy Fleetwood
    • Nick Taylor
    • Taylor Pendrith

• Strokes Gained: Putting (Poa)
  • The green complexes on the South Course at Torrey Pines are Poa annua .095”.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Akshay Bhatia
    • Denny McCarthy
    • Max Homa
    • Matthieu Pavon
    • Sahith Theegala
    • Sungjae Im
    • Mackenzie Hughes
    • Daniel Berger
    • Adam Scott
    • Collin Morikawa

• Par 4 Scoring: 450-500 Yards
  • Six of the ten Par 4’s on the South Course at Torrey Pines range from 450-500 Yards.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Daniel Berger
    • Russell Henley
    • Maverick McNealy
    • Austin Eckroat
    • Justin Thomas
    • Eric Cole
    • Jordan Spieth
    • Adam Scott
    • Cameron Davis
    • Sepp Straka

• Bogey Avoidance
  • The South Course is a long and challenging test, featuring narrow fairways, thick rough, and firm greens, making recovery from mistakes difficult. Unlike typical TOUR birdie-fests, Torrey Pines rarely surrenders low scores, emphasizing the importance of minimizing errors to stay in contention.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Justin Thomas
    • Seamus Power
    • Sam Stevens
    • Lucas Glover
    • Michael Kim
    • Daniel Berger
    • Gary Woodland
    • Brian Harman
    • J.J. Spaun

• Scrambling Gained
  • Players who excel at getting up and down from tough spots gain a significant edge in avoiding bogeys and keeping their rounds on track. With smaller-than-average greens and the unpredictable nature of Poa annua surfaces, even the best iron players frequently miss their targets. Skilled scramblers can turn difficult situations into par saves, gaining strokes on the field while others struggle.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Harris English
    • Christiaan Bezuidenhout
    • Wyndham Clark
    • Akshay Bhatia
    • Eric Cole
    • Justin Thomas
    • Maverick McNealy
    • Cameron Young
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Rory McIlroy

• Proximity Gained: 200+ Yards
  • The South Course at Torrey Pines sees a significantly higher volume of approach shots from the 200+ yard range compared to the PGA Tour average.

• Leaders in Proximity Gained 200+ Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Max Greyserman
  • Mark Hubbard
  • Tom Hoge
  • Austin Eckroat
  • Viktor Hovland
  • Sungjae Im
  • Scottie Scheffler
  • Byeong Hun An
  • Ben Griffin
  • Nicolas Echavarria

• Comparable Courses and Event History
  • The Data Golf Course History Tool suggests that past success at Torrey Pines has been a strong predictor of future performance in this tournament.

• Leaders in this category (Stokes Gained Total at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)):
  • Tony Finau
  • Adam Scott
  • Hideki Matsuyama
  • Jason Day
  • Will Zalatoris
  • Sam Stevens
  • Rory McIlroy
  • Sungjae Im
  • Keegan Bradley
  • Max Homa

The Field:

This year’s Genesis Invitational will feature a total of 72 competitors.

Basis of qualification for each entrant this week:

• Top 50 on Prior Year’s FedExCup Points List
• Aon Next 10 (FedExCup Fall thru RSM)
• Leading Finisher from the Race to Dubai, not otherwise exempt
• Aon Swing 5 (projected through WM Phoenix Open)
• Sponsor Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt
• Unrestricted Exemption – Charlie Sifford Award Winner
• FedExCup Fall Points List

Previous Winners in the Field (Event):

• Hideki Matsuyama (2024), Max Homa (2021), Adam Scott (2020, 2005)

Exemptions:

• Rickie Fowler – Sponsor Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt
• Min Woo Lee – Sponsor Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt
• Jordan Spieth – Sponsor Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt
• Gary Woodland – Sponsor Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt
• Danny List – Unrestricted Exemption – Charlie Sifford Award Winner

Notable Withdraws/ Changes:

• Min Woo Lee (IN as sponsor exemption)
• Chris Kirk (OUT) / Mark Hubbard (IN)
• Tiger Woods (OUT) / Jake Knapp (IN)

The Odds:

Here are the current favorites for this week’s event:

Recent Horses for Courses (Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)):

Recent Donkeys for Courses (Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course)):

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament) – The Genesis Invitational:

• 2024: Hideki Matsuyama (-17)
  • Price: 80-1

• 2023: Jon Rahm (-17)
  • Price: 15-2

• 2022: Joaquin Niemann (-19)
  • Price: 75-1

• 2021: Max Homa (-12)
  • Price: 60-1

• 2020: Adam Scott (-11)
  • Price: 33-1

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament) – Farmers Insurance Open:

• 2025: Harris English (-8)
  • Price: 80-1

• 2024: Matthieu Pavon (-13)
  • Price: 125-1

• 2023: Max Homa (-13)
  • Price: 25-1

• 2022: Luke List (-15)
  • Price: 90-1

• 2021: Patrick Reed (-14)
  • Price: 25-1

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts) – The Genesis Invitational:

• 2024: Hideki Matsuyama
  • T22 – WM Phoenix Open (PGA)
  • T71 – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (PGA)
  • T13 – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA)
  • T30 – Sony Open in Hawaii (PGA)
  • 58 – The Sentry (PGA)

• 2023: Jon Rahm
  • 3 – WM Phoenix Open (PGA)
  • T7 – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA)
  • WON – The American Express (PGA)
  • WON – Sentry Tournament of Champions (PGA)
  • T8 – Hero World Challenge (PGA)

• 2022: Joaquin Niemann
  • T8 – PIF Saudi International (ASA)
  • T6 – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA)
  • MC – The RSM Classic (PGA)
  • MC – Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open (PGA)
  • T5 – World Wide Technology Championship (PGA)

• 2021: Max Homa
  • T7 – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (PGA)
  • T42 – Waste Management Phoenix Open (PGA)
  • T18 – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA)
  • T21 – The American Express (PGA)
  • T12 – Mayakoba Golf Classic (PGA)

• 2020: Adam Scott
  • WON – Australian PGA Championship (DPWT)
  • T11 – WGC-HSBC Champions (PGA)
  • T33 – ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP (PGA)
  • T42 – Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (PGA)
  • T17 – Safeway Open (PGA)

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts) – Farmers Insurance Open:

• 2025: Harris English
  • T43 – The American Express (PGA)
  • MC – Sony Open in Hawaii (PGA)
  • T60 – The RSM Classic (PGA)
  • T14 – World Wide Technology Championship (PGA)
  • T9 – Shriners Children’s Open (PGA)

• 2024: Matthieu Pavon
  • T39 – The American Express (PGA)
  • T7 – Sony Open in Hawaii (PGA)
  • MC – AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (DPWT)
  • T5 – DP World Tour Championship (DPWT)
  • T15 – Nedbank Golf Challenge (DPWT)

• 2023: Max Homa
  • T3 – Sentry Tournament of Champions (PGA)
  • 17 – Hero World Challenge (PGA)
  • T23 – THE CJ CUP in South Carolina (PGA)
  • T20 – Shriners Children’s Open (PGA)
  • WON – Fortinet Championship (PGA)

• 2022: Luke List
  • T22 – The American Express (PGA)
  • T10 – The RSM Classic (PGA)
  • T11 –  Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open (PGA)
  • MC – World Wide Technology Championship (PGA)
  • T7 – ZOZO Championship (PGA)

• 2021: Patrick Reed
  • MC – The American Express (PGA)
  • T21 – Sentry Tournament of Champions (PGA)
  • T10 – The Masters (MAJ)
  • T14 – ZOZO Championship (PGA)
  • T13 – U.S. Open (MAJ)

Previous Winners Finishes at Event – The Genesis Invitational:

2024: Hideki Matsuyama

2023: Jon Rahm

2022: Joaquin Niemann

2021: Max Homa

2020: Adam Scott

Previous Winners Finishes at Event – Farmers Insurance Open:

2025: Harris English

2024: Matthieu Pavon

• Tournament Debut

2023: Max Homa

2022: Luke List

2021: Patrick Reed

Picks:

Outrights

Taylor Pendrith (+4000) – DraftKings

Risk 0.20 Units to win 8.00 Units

Tony Finau (+4500) – DraftKings

Risk 0.18 Units to win 8.10 Units

Jason Day (+4500) – DraftKings

Risk 0.18 Units to win 8.10 Units

Russell Henley (+6000) – FanDuel

Risk 0.14 Units to win 8.40 Units

Adam Scott (+7500) – FanDuel

Risk 0.11 Units to win 8.25 Units

Sam Stevens (+8000) – DraftKings

Risk 0.10 Units to win 8.00 Units

Akshay Bhatia (+9000) – DraftKings

Risk 0.09 Units to win 8.10 Units

Top 20 (Inc. Ties)

Taylor Pendrith (+110) – DraftKings

Risk 1.00 Units to win 1.10 Units

Min Woo Lee (+140) – DraftKings

Risk 1.00 Units to win 1.40 Units

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.