2023 Genesis Invitational: Top 10 Power Rankings at Riviera

Scottie Scheffler is back to world No. 1 and feeling good after successfully defending his title at the WM Phoenix Open. He held off Jon Rahm and a host of others to win by two at 19-under (68-64-68-65). That tied for the lowest 72-hole score since TPC Scottsdale was redesigned in 2014.

Even when his driver was failing him – Scheffler hit just five fairways each day on the weekend – he found a way to grind out pars and avoid compounding mistakes.

"“I hit some wild shots off the tee that were pretty uncharacteristic for how I usually shape the ball,” Scheffler was transcribed by ASAP Sports. “I was just able to grind it out, make a lot of putts. I think I only had two bogeys this week. Which is really, really (good) around this golf course. So I’m proud of that with my short game and putting. Hoping to build on this going forward.”"

Scheffler earned his fifth career PGA Tour victory on the strength of elite iron play. The former Texas Longhorn led the field in strokes gained on approach (9.487), which helped him also take first in SG tee to green (13.738).

Mix in sitting first in scrambling (87.5%), and that’s enough to win, even at a designated event.

The 26-year-old is ninth in total SG per round this season (1.899). He’s fifth in SG off the tee (.827), which leads me to believe he’ll rein in his driving this week at a place like Riviera that demands it.

Scheffler has improved each time in three Genesis Invitational appearances. He debuted with T-30th (69-72-71-70) in 2020, moved up to T-20th (67-74-74-66) in 2021, and cracked the top-10 in T-7th (66-72-65-69) last year.

Good course history and good recent form that also includes T-7th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and T-11th at The American Express lead me to believe he’ll be in contention to win yet again this week in Pacific Palisades.