Genesis Invitational – Tiger Woods expectations, picks, best bets

LOS ANGELES– Tiger Woods will certainly tee it up at the Genesis Invitational on Thursday (3:04 p.m. ET, ESPN+) in his initial authorities PGA Tour occasion in virtually 7 months. At a press conference Tuesday, Woods informed press reporters he would certainly not be playing in case if he did not think he might compete or perhaps win.

While all eyes will certainly get on Woods, there will certainly be no lack of fantastic golf this weekend break. The Official World Golf Ranking’s leading 3 of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and also Jon Rahm will certainly remain to defend theNo 1 place amongst a limited area of a raised occasion.

After viewing technique rounds and also the pro- get on Wednesday early morning at Riviera Country Club, our golf specialists evaluated in on what to anticipate this weekend break:

Riviera can be a hard stroll, however it’s a fave ofTiger’s How did he take a look at technique and also throughout Wednesday’s pro- am?

Mark Schlabach: I marvelled Woods was playing in an 18- opening pro- am. I presume if you’re holding the competition, you need to do every little thing that you’re asking everybody else to do. It was chilly and also gusty, however he really did not appear specifically rigid on the technique array. He was strolling without a limp throughout the front 9 and also really did not appear to have an issue till the last couple of openings. I do not recognize if his choice to quit playing after an excellent shot on 16 was due to discomfort, or that he was done having fun with not great golf players. He took his time pacing hillsides on the training course, however dealt with the 52 actions from the 18th eco-friendly to the racking up camping tent quite possibly.

Paolo Uggetti: It was a gusty and also chilly 41 levels below in Pacific Palisades when Woods embarked on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. PT. The sunlight was hardly out, however there was still a little gallery around him (no followers were permitted on building Wednesday) as he terminated off the motorist down the initial fairway. At initially, it was hard to inform exactly how comfy Woods was strolling, however as the front 9 accompanied, he did not have a recognizable limp and also seemed strolling far better than the last time we saw him play. On the back 9, nevertheless, Woods started to stroll slower and also his minor weight payment resurfaced.

As Woods outlined to the media Wednesday, striking shots is not a concern, however his best ankle joint is. However, Woods did state he had actually particularly prepared to play– and also most likely stroll– this training course. He remained in great spirits Wednesday also as the wind grabbed and also striking shots ended up being a little bit much more treacherous.

Tiger states he pertained to win. Is that what we can anticipate?

Schlabach: Woods claimed he would not have actually appeared at the Genesis to play if he really did not believe he might compete or win the competition. After what we experienced a year earlier, I believe making it and also staying for the weekend break would certainly be a huge progression. Woods is 47 years of ages. He played just 9 rounds in 3 significant champions last period. He was compelled to take out of the PGA Championship after 54 openings and also missed out on the cut at The Open atSt Andrews in July, the last time he played in a main PGA Tour occasion.

Woods claimed his operatively fixed best leg remains in much better form than it was a year earlier. He is still managing discomfort in his best ankle joint, along with plantar fasciitis in his best foot. He recognized that he hasn’t strolled 18 openings for 4 straight days this year. Hitting great shots isn’t an issue. As he has claimed sometimes, it’s still regarding obtaining from factor A to aim B. Will Woods’ leg, ankle joint and also foot stand up over 4 days if he makes it? Unfortunately, that’s mosting likely to be the inquiry whenever he contends moving forward.

Uggetti: At this factor, it would certainly be odd and also out of personality if Woods claimed he was playing a competition simply to play it and also not attempt to win. He’s been continuously singing regarding the truth that he will just tee it up if he can win, however that does not imply we ought to anticipate that. Remove the truth that he’s coming off significant surgical treatments and also a lengthy discharge, and also the obstacle available is still that of defeating the best gamers on the planet at a PGA Tour marked occasion.

Making the cut, as Schlabach claimed, would certainly be a large ethical success for anybody however him. At this factor, that really feels practical however not an assurance. For Woods and also actually the golf globe at huge, the hope is that playing in events similar to this one aid him plan for the events that he actually intends to still win– the majors.

He’ll tee it up at 3:04 p.m. ET on Thursday in an extremely team of Justin Thomas and also Rory McIlroy. What will we see from them?

Schlabach: Hogan’s Alley is a shotmaker’s training course, and also couple of PGA Tour gamers are much better with a mid- iron or wedge in his hand than Thomas, among Woods’ closest pals. Thomas left to a little a sluggish begin in 2023, however his kind began to find with each other at the WM Phoenix Open, where he carded a 65 on Sunday and also completed solo 4th. After missing out on the cut in back- to- back begins at Riviera Country Club, Thomas was 6th in 2014. Thomas’ function around the eco-friendly is globe- course, and also he’ll be hard to defeat if his putter fumes.

I was a little bit stunned that McIlroy had not been a consider Phoenix, offered exactly how well he had actually repeated the previous couple of months. Then once more, TPC Scottsdale has actually never ever been just one of his preferred tracks; he frequently missed the occasion till it ended up being a marked one. Mcllroy has actually been much better at Riv, with 3 leading- 10 coatings in his previous 4 beginnings. His ballstriking in Phoenix had not been negative, however he never ever appeared comfy on the eco-friendly. McIlroy is a hazard to win whenever he tees it up nowadays.

Uggetti: Far be it from me to regret a highlighted team of this size, however this really feels a little excessive like an Avengers circumstance, specifically a year after Riv ended up being the location for all LIV reports and also these 3 have actually been staunchly professional- PGA Tour given that. That being claimed, McIlroy has actually been singing in the previous regarding exactly how playing in a team with Woods isn’t constantly the best for his video game. The gallery Thursday will certainly be huge and also loud, and also while I’m certain both Thomas and also McIlroy delight in having fun with Woods, it will not be simple.

It seems like McIlroy schedules for a solid efficiency in among the marked occasions. As Schlabach mentioned, he has a background of playing well below and also has actually been striking the sphere at an elite degree for the previous 10 months approximately. It’s tough to determine exactly how Thomas will certainly do at any type of offered occasion however I’ll be fascinated to see exactly how his placing prices on Riv’s tiny, undulating environment-friendlies. So much this period, Thomas is 159th in strokes obtained: placing and also has actually currently changed putters as soon as.

It’s been an actual fight on top of the standings. How will Jon Rahm and also Scottie Scheffler reasonable at Riviera?

Schlabach: As long as Scheffler won last period, it’s unsubstantiated he really did not win once more after the Masters and also went 10 months without a success till ending up initially atPhoenix After finishing his “drought” at TPC Scottsdale, one needs to ask yourself if he will create one more heating unit like last period, when he won 4 times in 6 beginnings and also grabbed his initial significant atAugusta National When Scheffler obtains it moving, he is difficult to reduce. He has just 4 beginnings at Riviera however did considerably much better in each of them: missed out on cut, 30th, 20th and also 7th in 2014. He led the area in strokes obtained: tee to eco-friendly and also technique recently. That would certainly be one more great dish at theGenesis Scheffler likes contending in huge occasions, and also with 23 of the leading 25 gamers on the planet below, he’ll be very encouraged to win.

As great as Scheffler and also McIlroy have actually been, I’m not exactly sure anybody has actually been as constant asRahm The Spaniard has actually made 5 beginnings this period, consisting of back- to- back wins at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and alsoAmerican Express Rahm really did not have his best things at Phoenix recently however still took care of to end up solo 3rd. There’s none component of his video game that isn’t shooting on all cyndrical tubes now; he’s driving the sphere much, striking environment-friendlies and also making putts.

Uggetti: It seems like the best of the best is beginning to not simply climb this period however remain at the top. Even when Rahm battles, he appears to return to his elite self virtually promptly and also make a run at the leaders. Meanwhile, Scheffler is the trip’s silent continuous. He could not obtain coupled with Woods like Thomas and also McIlroy, however to hear him speak about his once a week technique, he could choose flying a little bit under the radar contrasted to his even more well- recognized peers.

I would certainly not be stunned to see both Rahm and also Scheffler in the leading 5 today. It’s a training course that establishes well for both (in huge component since, well, every component of their video games appear to be growing). An designated result of the trip’s brand-new marked occasions appears to be permitting the best gamers on the planet to confirm themselves to be simply that. No one is doing that much better currently than Rahm and also Scheffler.

Who’s winning today?

Schlabach: Give me JT. He’s rounding right into kind and also will certainly intend to do well while having fun with Woods in the initial 2 rounds. He likes the training course, despite the fact that it’s where he shed to buddy Jordan Spieth in the 2012 NCAA champion. It would certainly additionally imply a whole lot for Thomas to win Woods’ competition, specifically given that Tiger hasn’t won at Riviera Country Club.

Uggetti: It is really hard to choose anybody besides the triad of Rahm, McIlroy and also Scheffler now, however in an initiative to head out of package a little bit, I believe today establishes well for a repeat champion likeMax Homa The Southern California indigenous really did not have his best things in Phoenix, however the method he’s been striking the sphere since late, it’s simple to see him getting better in a huge method at a training course he’s currently won at.

Best bets

Collin Morikawa to win (22- 1); Tourney match Morikawa over Spieth (-140 )

Anita Marks: Morikawa has actually been a stud in theGolden State He has among the best discolors on trip, places 7th in SG-Tee- to-Green, sixth in Approach and also 13th off the tee. He additionally putts well at Riviera Country Club.

Xander Schauffele leading- 5 surface (+350 ); initially- rounded leader (30- 1)

Marks: Schauffele places 5th in tee- to- eco-friendly, 7th in the same level- 4 racking up and also has actually completed no even worse than T- 23 to T019 in 5 looks at Riviera Country Club.

Tiger Woods, leading- 40 surface (2- 1)

Marks: Woods is making his 15th look in Riviera this weekend break however has actually never ever won the occasion. However, he has actually completed as jogger- up two times.

Tiger Woods, leading- 40 surface (2- 1)

David Bearman: While Scheffler, Rahm and also Nick Taylor obtained the majority of the focus recently, JT snuck right into a 4th- location do with a 67- 65 surface. It was simply what he required after a sluggish begin to the 2023 project. Now in great kind, JT heads to play Riviera, where he completed jogger- up in 2019 and also was 6th in 2014.

Adam Scott (60- 1) to win; top- 10 surface (+450 )

Bearman: Every training course has a “Horse for Course” which golf player below at Riviera isAdam Scott He was the champion in 2005 and also 2020, jogger- up 2 extra times and also T- 4 in 2014 as component of 7 leading 10s in 14 looks. The all- time cash leader at this occasion is additionally well- relaxed, having actually been off given that finishing the Hawaii turn with a T- 21 surface at Sony.

Tiger Woods to make it (+150 )

Bearman: You simply aren’t going to obtain several possibilities to play Tiger to make the weekend break at plus cash. I recognize he hasn’t played competitively given that last July, however as he states, he isn’t teeing it up for program … he remains in it to win it. Not stating he will, however he has actually made it in 11 of 12 looks as a pro. Plus, you desire something to favor, right?