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Genesis Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at Riviera

By Mike Randleman

February 17, 2019; Pacific Palisades, CA, USA; General view of the eighteenth green and clubhouse during the final round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 17, 2019; Pacific Palisades, CA, USA; General view of the eighteenth green and clubhouse during the final round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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February 13, 2020; Pacific Palisades, California, USA; Patrick Cantlay hits from the twelfth hole tee box during the first round of the The Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 13, 2020; Pacific Palisades, California, USA; Patrick Cantlay hits from the twelfth hole tee box during the first round of the The Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Patrick Cantlay had plenty of course knowledge at Riviera Country Club growing up not far away in Long Beach and having a historic collegiate career at UCLA.

He had played plenty of rounds at Hogan’s Alley, but he didn’t summon the type of play resembling Hogan. Cantlay missed the cut as a youngster in his first two Genesis Invitational appearances in 2012 and 2013.

Playing the course in tournament conditions reinforced the fundamentals of what he knew it took to get it done here.

“Definitely knowing where the ball feeds on some of these hole locations is important, and where to err,” Cantlay was quoted in 2018 by Golf Channel. “This golf course has a lot of intricate architecture, especially on the greens and particular hole locations where the ball will feed from certain spots, and knowing that’s huge.”

Cantlay’s pro career was off and running when he arrived back to Pacific Palisades five years later. Cantlay fired 66-69-69-71 to finish T-4th.

That remains his best tournament finish, though he wasn’t far off with T-15th (68-71-70-69) in 2019 and T-17th (68-72-71-68) a year ago. Eleven rounds of par or better for a 20-under total and no scores above 72 is very tidy.

Cantlay is in good form and should continue it this week as long as last week’s finish at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am doesn’t linger. The 28 year old was the first round leader after a scorching 10-under 61 at Pebble Beach. He sputtered at Spyglass Hill the next day and just never seemed to find a groove after that.

Cantlay’s Sunday 68 was perfectly acceptable, but there were chances on the back nine to fend off Daniel Berger that he’d like back.

He led the field in the three rounds recorded by ShotLink at Pebble Beach in strokes gained tee to green (3.22). He wasn’t atrocious around or on the greens, just not good enough.

Cantlay has been on fire since winning the Zozo Championship last fall at nearby Sherwood Forest. He finished T-17th at the Masters, T-13th at the Tournament of Champions and solo second at The American Express.

Can you tell he loves the West Coast swing?

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