Genesis Open Power Rankings: Top ten players to ride with at Riviera

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PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 21: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on February 21, 2016 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

On the heels of his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am debut, Rory McIlroy’s making his second trip this week to the Genesis Open.

Based on his T20 finish in 2016 and his length and iron game, this appears a good track for McIlroy.

"“I wanted to play here because of what I’d seen on TV and the great things people say about Riviera,” McIlroy said before his debut in 2016. “… It’s a real thinker’s golf course and it’s a real treat to play something like this because we don’t get to play them that often anymore.”"

Last week’s missed cut at Pebble Beach was a step backward, but two top-fives on the European Tour prior are still recent enough to think McIlroy can succeed this week if he gets the putter going.

He had a five-putt at Monterey Peninsula and finished at -.725 strokes gained in his two rounds at Pebble Beach.

"“I hit some really good shots and, yeah, I just need a few putts to fall and I think sometimes with these poa annua greens you start to get a little bit tentative with them and it just gets away from you,” McIlroy said Sunday. “So I let the greens yesterday get into my head a little bit and it was hard to get out of that mindset.”"

McIlroy struck the ball beautifully and only missed the weekend by two at Pebble. One more week on the poa annua greens should raise his comfort on the greens closer to the levels he’s at with the rest of his game.

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