The Genesis Invitational | Tournament Preview
PACIFIC PALISADES - Jon Rahm tees-it-up for The Genesis Invitational holding the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking for the 31st consecutive week, but two players can take over the top spot with a win this week (if Rahm finishes worse than solo-fourth). Those two are No. 2 Collin Morikawa and No. 3 Patrick Cantlay, who’ve combined for seven Top-10s in seven starts this season. Neither player has been ranked No. 1 previously.
The Genesis Invitational has presented the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption since 2009, providing an opportunity to a golfer of a minority background to compete in the tournament. Named in honor of Charlie Sifford, the first Black player to compete on the modern-day PGA Tour, the 2022 exemption was awarded to Aaron Beverly who will make his Tour debut. The Sacramento State University alum most recently competed on the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour where he won the Fall Series finale at nearby Wilshire Country Club. Beverly will hit the opening tee shot to start the first round. There are three former Charlie Sifford Exemption recipients in the field this week: Harold Varner III (2014), J.J. Spaun (2016) and Cameron Champ (2018). The Genesis Invitational is the first of several tournaments to recognize Sifford in 2022 as he would have turned 100 this June 2nd.
The Genesis Invitational
COURSE: Riviera County Club, Pacific Palisades, California
ARCHITECTS: G.C.Thomas, Jr. and W.P. Bell
YARDS/PAR: 7,322 yards/Par 71
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $12,000,000/$2,160,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Max Homa
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 550 (Elevated Status)
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @thegenesisinv
TV COVERAGE: First two rounds (Today and Feb 18) are scheduled for coverage from 4:00pm to 8:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Saturday coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 7pm (ET) on CBS. On Sunday, Golf Channel broadcasts from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) and CBS follows with the final round 3:00 to 6:30pm (ET).
PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus today and Friday with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 9:30am to 8:00pm (ET). On Saturday ESPN+ streams 12:00 noon to 7:00pm (ET) while, on Sunday, ESPN+ streaming is from 11:30am to 6:30pm (ET).
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of The Genesis Invitational with today’s and Friday’s broadcasts from 2:00pm to 8:00pm (ET). Saturday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 2:00pm to 7:00pm and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:30pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
The Basics:
The Genesis Invitational Tee Times start today at 6:40am (local)/9:40pm (ET) and go to 12:54pm (local)/3:54pm (ET).
Weather: Today’s forecast is for sunny skies and 68-degrees for the opening round with winds nine mph and a 0% chance of rain (link). Sunny to mostly sunny skies, low winds and zero chance of rain expected all weekend.
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 10:00AM (ET) on Friday.
Next Week: The tour swings east for The Honda Classic (link)
The Genesis Invitational - Field and Tee Times:
The Field: (link)
Update: Matt Fitzpatrick WD Thursday before R1/ Alex Smalley IN
Tee Times: (link)
What They’re Saying:
Tiger Woods Irritated at Pace of Recovery (ESPN.com)
Fitzpatrick Withdraws from Genesis (Golf Week/USA Today)
How to Watch This Week (Golf Week/USA Today)
FedExCup Standings (PGATourCom)
Industry News, #Sports Gambling and Daily Fantasy News
Expert Picks for Genesis - (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks for Riviera - (PGATourCom)
Rahm, McIlroy Speak Out Against Super League (ESPN.com)
Rahm Voted European Tour Player of the Year (ESPN.com)
On This Day in Golf History:
February 17, 1974 - Dave Stockton won the Los Angeles Open with one of the greatest approach shots ever hit at the famed Riviera Country Club where the Tour tees-off today, too. After some gamesmanship with Sam Snead, Stockton mishits his tee shot on the 18th into deep rough on a hill, some 244 yards away. “I remember the ball was about eight-inches below my knee,” he said. Stockton hit his three wood approach to within 12 feet of the hole to make birdie to defeat Snead and John Mahaffey by two shots. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt:
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