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Genesis Open: Power ranking the top 10 at Riviera

By Mike Randleman

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)
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) /
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PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 16: Paul Casey of England plays his shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 16, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 16: Paul Casey of England plays his shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 16, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Paul Casey doesn’t have the course form at Riviera to merit a higher spot on this week’s rankings, but his current form is his saving grace.

The 41-year-old has three top-20 finishes in four starts to open 2019 including back-to-back runner-up finishes. Casey finished second at the Singapore Open on the Asian Tour and after a few weeks off finished runner up (again) only behind Phil Mickelson’s strong performance at Pebble Beach. Casey’s 16-under total (69-64-67-71) would have won most years, but a lack of aggression on Sunday left him without much of a shot to win during the two-hole Monday finish.

Casey’s set to make his eighth Genesis Open start this week. After missing the cut at Riv in 2005, the Englishman’s made seven straight cuts highlighted by a T2 in 2015. That was his only top 10 here, but he does have three top-25s.

“I love coming to L.A.,” Casey said in 2015. “The crowds are entertaining, and this place, I mean, it’s just perfect.  This is just a golf course that you get excited to go and play.”

Casey has just six measured rounds on Tour this season, so we’ll use stats from 2017-18. He was in the positive in all strokes gained categories including 11th in approach.

Casey’s still one of the game’s best long iron players even into his 40s. He ranked first in approaches from 200-plus yards.

While playing in back-to-back weeks and having to delay his prep due to the Monday finish, Casey should still have plenty of gas in the tank to take on a course he knows well by now.

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