Professional golf analyst Craig Edwards (@EdwardsTips_) provides an expert preview of this week’s PGA Tour Signature Event, the Genesis Invitational, and shares his top betting selections with readers.
The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club
The Genesis Invitational is a PGA Tour Signature Event featuring a limited field of 72 players and a 36-hole cut.
This year’s Charlie Sifford Memorial Foundation Exemption nominee is Sahith Theegala—an exemption that provides a golfer from a minority background with a spot in The Genesis Invitational field, honoring the legacy of Dr. Charlie Sifford, the first African American to compete on the PGA Tour.
Course Notes
- Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles
- Par 71, 7,322 yards
Set in classic parkland, Riviera places a premium on driving accuracy and the ability to manoeuvre the ball both ways—traits befitting a venue with longstanding championship status.
Creative shot-makers tend to excel here, which helps explain why multiple past winners include Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.
Will It Be Redemption for Patrick Cantlay?
In 2024, Patrick Cantlay led the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club by three shots after 36 holes and looked poised to claim his first title at an event where he has consistently performed well.
However, he faded over the weekend and finished fourth—his third top-four result at Riviera in seven years.
Last week illustrated how quickly fortunes can change in golf when Collin Morikawa won at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, just one week after a disappointing season opener in Phoenix. Morikawa, a two-time major champion, faced social media criticism for his struggles around the greens but overcame those issues to win at +6600—his longest pre-tournament price since turning professional.
Perhaps that resurgence will inspire fellow Californian Cantlay.
Patrick Cantlay’s Picks at Bovada
Both Cantlay and Morikawa have endured unusually long winless stretches on the PGA Tour, with Morikawa’s last victory coming in 2023 and Cantlay’s dating back to the BMW Championship in 2022—surprising given their lofty world rankings.
As with Morikawa, Cantlay’s odds have drifted to attractive levels this week despite steady performances early in the season. BMR recommends backing Cantlay in both the outright and Top 10 markets at Bovada.
- Patrick Cantlay Outright Win (+2500)
- Patrick Cantlay Top 10 (+250)
Take Tony Finau in Props
Recent performances suggest that Tony Finau may be turning a corner after a difficult stretch, recording two top-20 finishes in his first five starts this season. However, three missed cuts during that span underline lingering concerns about consistency in the Utah native’s game.
Despite those inconsistencies, Finau has an excellent record at Riviera Country Club, finishing runner-up in both 2018 and 2021.
That success is no coincidence. One of his greatest strengths is shaping tee shots both ways while producing high, towering approach shots—an ideal skill set for Riviera’s demanding layout and tricky Poa annua greens.
Tony Finau’s Golf Picks at BetOnline
BMR recommends exploring the prop markets available at BetOnline for Finau this week. Our preferred angles are the Top 20 and Top 10 finish markets at BetOnline.
- Tony Finau Top 20 (+500)
- Tony Finau Top 10 (+1100)
Genesis Invitational Pro-Am Betting Gameplan
A quick recap of this week’s selections for the Genesis Invitational:
Patrick Cantlay’s Picks at Bovada
- Outright Win (+2500)
- Top 10 (+250)
Tony Finau’s Picks at BetOnline
- Top 20 (+500)
- Top 10 (+1100)
Securing the best odds is essential in golf wagering. Because prices vary across BMR-recommended sportsbooks, maintaining accounts with multiple trusted operators allows you to compare numbers effectively.
That kind of line shopping—whether for outrights or placement props—can often be the difference between a break-even week and a profitable one.
*The line and/or odds for the picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
