The Genesis Invitational 2021: Tournament preview and picks

Bryson DeChambeau +1700

Bryson DeChambeau comes in as the seventh-highest priced player on the board this week and that is probably about right after he struggled a bit by his standards in his last start at the Saudi International on the European Tour, he will also be making just his third start of 2021 this week.

The U.S. Open champion will be making his first start in this part of the World since the Tournament of Champions back in January where he finished 7th to start his new year.

The lack of starts compared to others is a concern this week but what I’m backing is the improving track record he has had at the Genesis Invitational thus far in his career. DeChambeau has gone 41st, 15th, 5th over his last three starts at Riviera, and add in the fact that he leads the field in strokes gained off the tee and putts best on POA greens and I’m more then willing to back him at possibly one of the biggest numbers we will get on him all year.

Tony Finau +2200

I know what you are thinking, “here we go again, backing the man that never wins” and you are certainly right about that but there are some encouraging signs that a win could be right around the corner for the man who can’t seem to cross the line.

Finau has started 2021 with a 31st, 4th, 2nd, 2nd, with one of those 2nd place finishes coming at the Farmers last month and the other coming overseas in a pretty strong field at the Suadi International two weeks ago.

Tony led the field in greens in regulation percentage in his last start and he gained over three strokes with his irons at Torrey Pines reflecting the shape his game is in at the moment. Finau has two top-twenty finishes at Riviera in his last three starts and he is simply playing too well to remain winless for much longer, so I’ll take a shot that his breakthrough comes this week.

After taking two near the top of the board this week I’ll finish with one more in the midtier and two longshots.