2022 Genesis Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at Riviera CC

I had Viktor Hovland in the No. 1 slot and he produced a surprising missed cut.

I’m ready to be hurt again, though one would think Norway’s top golfer will rebound at Riviera.

Hovland was an impressive Genesis Invitational debutant in 2021. He fired 71-69-70-67 to take T-5th. His bogey-free Sunday vaulted him nine spots up the leaderboard.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy led the field in strokes gained off the tee (3.871) and was seventh in SG tee to green (7.351). He wasn’t sharp enough on and around the greens to win, but mastering the tricky greens surrounds and kikuyu grass can take some time.

It was a big improvement from a missed cut he suffered at the 2017 U.S. Amateur held at Riviera and Bel-Air Country Club.

A reason Hovland’s early exit at the Phoenix Open was such a surprise was the blistering stretch of golf that preceded it.

He recently reached his peak of No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings after reeling off wins to close 2021 at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba and Hero World Challenge, and opening 2022 on the DP World Tour with T-4th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and a win at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Hovland held off Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott, Paul Casey, and Thomas Pieters all in the top 12.

He was on pace to miss the cut before withdrawing from the 2021 U.S. Open. Aside from that, he’s played the weekend in every event he’s teed up in since the Players Championship last March.

The smiley 24-year-old is as pure of a ball-striker as they come. Hovland ranked fifth on the PGA Tour last season in SG off the tee (.656) and 15th in SG approach (.648).

Riviera will giveth and taketh away. It’s important to keep a level head out there. Hovland’s got maturity beyond his years, and it shows by ranking fourth in 2020-21 in bounce back percentage (28.37%).

I fear his short game woes will keep him from winning this week, but expect Vik to climb back in the top-10 in Tinseltown.