Golf
Genesis Invitational preview: Thomas can finally tame Riviera
A certain Tiger Woods makes his first start of 2023 at this week’s Genesis Invitational and has the big cat always does, he’ll take all the headlines.
Woods’ foundation sponsors the event and once again the stars are out in force at Riviera to support, with 23 of the top 25 in the world rankings teeing it up. This is one of the big events on the PGA Tour and Tiger’s appearance only heightens the interest, so everything is in place for a cracking week.
Don’t forget, Scottie Scheffler’s win at last week’s WM Phoenix Open meant we had tipped winners in three of the last four weeks, and the week we didn’t we had a 50/1 second. Let’s hope we can continue the good work this week!
Thomas’ time to deliver
Many have always thought that Justin Thomas and Riviera Country Club were a match made in heaven and for those who shared that view, it’s pretty staggering JT has failed to win here yet. It’s been slightly feast or famine for Thomas, but given he’s finished ninth, second and sixth here, he’s shown that it’s a course that really suits when he’s able to put it all together. As mentioned, he has yet to win here, but he really should have in 2019 but for a disastrous 75 on Sunday which let J.B. Holmes in to win.
That was a loss that would have hurt, but it was the second time he’d been in genuine contention here after he was seen to challenge in 2018. He then went close again last year, eventually finishing in sixth-place. Interestingly, all three of those finishes came after strong showings at the WM Phoenix Open on his previous start. He finished in a tie for 17th in 2018 before finishing in a tie for ninth at Riviera, he was then third in Phoenix before the aforementioned second in 2019 and then last year he was tied for eighth at TPC Scottsdale before a solo sixth at Riviera.
That correlates well with this year as he was a fast finishing fourth last week where he closed with a 64. He was never really a serious challenge to Scottie Scheffler but his Sunday showing would have given him plenty of confidence ahead of his return to Riviera.
This is a tournament where course form really counts, with the majority of the recent winners having been competitive previously and Thomas looks primed for another bold showing at 14/1.
