Genesis Open: Power ranking the top 10 at Riviera

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PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 18: Spectators look on as Phil Mickelson putts on the 18th green during the final round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 18, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

The PGA Tour goes to Tinseltown for the Genesis Open held at famed Riviera Country Club

The PGA Tour is in Los Angeles for the Genesis Open and some of golf’s stars are coming out.

Tiger Woods makes his second start of 2019, Phil Mickelson is coming off a win at Pebble Beach and Bubba Watson is back to defend his title and contend for his third tournament championship.

The Genesis Open will feature 144 players this week, slightly down from the full field of 156. The action takes place all on one course, famed Riviera Country Club which has hosted this event 56 times including every year since 1999.

Riviera is a par 71 playing at 7,322 yards and utilizes poa annua greens. The three par-5s are gettable for most of the field but several of the par-4s are 450-plus yards so driving distance has value around here.

Some stats to keep an eye on are strokes gained off the tee, approaches from 150-plus and strokes gained around the green. That sticky kikuya rough can be a doozy. Guys who are comfortable on poa greens are also valuable.

Winning score in the last decade tends to be in the low double digits under par, so this is far from a birdie fest.

A who’s who has won this event that dates back to 1926: Hogan, Nelson, Snead, Palmer, Watson (both Tom and Bubba), Woods, etc.

Let’s see who lines up to be the next in line to win at historic Riviera.

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