2021 Genesis Invitational: Golfer Picks to win at Riviera

We continue the run of events that people truly love to watch, as the PGA Tour heads to Riviera CC to play the 2021 Genesis Invitational.

Unfortunately, Tiger Woods won’t be playing there this year, as he is still recovering from his back surgery… something my five-year-old reminds me of every time I have golf on. I guess I must be doing something right!

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of reasons to watch this week. In fact, we have a lot of talented golfers in the field, in large part to this being an Invitational instead of a regular tournament. Take a look at some of the names that are at the top of the odds boards.

Dustin Johnson. Jon Rahm. Rory McIlroy. Justin Thomas. Beefy Bryson. Patrick Cantlay. Xander. Koepka. Morikawa. Finau. Oh buddy, are we in for some good golf.

Here are the staff picks to win the 2021 Genesis Invitational.

Dustin Johnson

Mike Randleman – An excerpt from the wonderful weekly power rankings…

“There aren’t many PGA Tour stops anymore where Dustin Johnson hasn’t won. Riviera is one of them… DJ breezed by the field for a five-shot win in 2017 thanks to rounds of 66-66-64-71. That was the first of three straight wins that year… The win is among six top-fives, nine top-10s and 11 made cuts in 13 starts at the Genesis Invitational. The win in ‘17 was a long time coming after two runner-ups and a fourth from 2014-16.”

DJ Cadden – Dustin Johnson is going to win… by five strokes.

Tim Letcher – Simply the best player in the world right now and it’s hard to pick anyone else.

Hans Geevers

Michael Ellis

Rory McIlroy

Richie Randolph

Matt Tizzard

Max Homa

Chris O’Day – Homa played well last year at the Genesis Invitational, and I think he has only gotten better since. 72-69-65-70 shows that he is able to play consistently, as well as putting together a great round. Even among the incredible amount of talent here this week, I’m going with Homa to win.

Bryson DeChambeau

Joey McCusker

Kasey Kuhrts – I can’t stand the dude, but he is my pick to win this week.

Josh Chandler – In an excerpt from his article this week on the Genesis Invitational...

“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 than willing to back him at possibly one of the biggest numbers we will get on him all year.”

Patrick Cantlay

Dalton Finkbeiner – Making my first staff pick, hopefully, I get some beginner’s luck! I really like Patrick Cantlay this week Coming off a top-five finish at Pebble Beach last week, I like the former UCLA Bruin to get it done in Los Angeles. He has finished inside the top 20 in all three of his starts at Riviera, including a T4 finish in 2018.

Xander Schauffele

Bill Felber – Since the tournament is in his backyard, Cantlay is the obvious pick. I’m going against the grain just a bit. Xander Schauffele may not have won in a while, but he has three runner-up finishes in his last six tournaments, two in a row. He’s my guy.

Kathy Bissell – I’d love to say Jordan Spieth, but I think it’s more of a Xander Schauffele location. I’d love to pick Patrick Cantlay again, but I don’t have the guts. So Xander. It’s hard to love poa annua, but he does.

Justin Thomas

West Valentine – Justin Thomas will win at Riviera… I think. He’s just too good not to win. The field is stacked, but I like where Thomas is with his game. He should be a favorite every time he tees it up.

Best of luck to everyone this week at the Genesis Invitational!