2022 Genesis Invitational Updated Betting Odds, Predictions: 3 Picks for Riviera, Including Matthew Fitzpatrick, Hideki Matsuyama

Nothing much to report from Phoenix. Bets made the cut but never really scared a top-5 finish.

The odds trend held with Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay meeting in a playoff to ensure another winner under +4000.

Now we go to the Genesis Invitational, where again the edge has been toward the stars in this loaded field.

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The Course

Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles measures in at 7,340 yards for a par 71 and it ranks as one of the toughest tests from tee to green on TOUR. Each year, it tends to have some of the hardest fairways and greens to hit.

Since players often struggle to find the fairways and greens, I put more of an emphasis on scrambling at Riviera than I would during a normal tournament.

On easier courses, that doesn’t come into play as much, because if players are scrambling, then they aren’t usually creating enough birdie chances to win anyway. But on this course, the winner will likely need to find a way to get up and down five or six times per round.

This course has also favored bombers in recent years. Bubba Watson has won three times in the last eight years. Dustin Johnson and J.B. Holmes also have wins here during that time frame. Last year, Tony Finau looked to have the title before falling to Max Homa in a playoff.

Prior to that run, though, shorter hitters like Steve Stricker, Bill Haas, Aaron Baddeley and John Merrick also had success here. When in doubt, it’s probably best to favor length, but a shorter hitter who stays out of trouble can also contend.

The Favorites

Jon Rahm sees a small dip to +900 in his price in an even stronger field than last week. Just like everywhere else, this is another course where Rahm has been solid, finishing inside the top 20 in all three starts.

Patrick Cantlay is next in line at +1200. He's on a string of four straight starts with no finish worse than 17th here.

Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa make up that next group between +1600 and +1800. DJ is always popular here. He won in 2017 and has finished inside the top 10 in seven of his last eight starts. Thomas has a spotty record here include one of his more memorable blow-ups when he let a lead slip to JB Holmes in 2019 with a final round 75. Morikawa still hasn't really contended in two starts.

Rory McIlroy, Victor Hovland, Cameron Smith, Hideki Matsuyama and Xander Schauffele wrap up the top of the board. This course sets up nicely for each of these guys and they've all put up good results. Of the group, I'm actually going to make a play in this range with Matsuyama at +2500 on bet365. He's been inside the top 11 in four of his last six starts here. He's coming off a good ball striking week in Phoenix. Masters champs have a strong record here with DJ, Watson and Adam Scott winning recently, so I don't mind starting my card in this range with a guy in good form.

Bet on Matsuyama and get $500 in bet credits. NJ only.

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The Midtier

We'll open here with Sungjae Im at +4000 on DraftKings. Im hasn't played well here yet but it's a course I believe should fit him better than it has. He's been playing well, coming off a sixth at the Farmers on another course he hadn't really popped up at before. His game is trending toward a big result and I'm hoping we can get ahead of it before a string of solid results bring him back down closer to the favorites.

My last play will be Matthew Fitzpatrick at +4500 on bet365. Fitz is coming off a solid all-around week where he gained strokes across the board in Phoenix. He used a similarly strong all-around game last year here to finish fifth. He's a guy who's had nothing but success across Europe and should have the short game to handle the difficulty Riviera possess.

Bet Im or Fitzpatrick at BetMGM and get a risk-free bet up to $1,000.

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The Longshots

No outrights here, but I'll be keeping tabs on the Top 20 odds for Taylor Pendrith and Cameron Young. Both bombers can get hot with the putter and have the distance to overpower any course they come across.

They're probably not ready to take down a field of this caliber, but they are in good enough form to play well for four days and get a good result.

The Genesis Card

• Hideki Matsuyama +2500 (1.32 units)
• Sungjae Im +4000 (.83 units)
• Matthew Fitzpatrick +4500 (.73 units)

Total Stake: 2.85 units

Bet Riviera at Caesars and get a $5,000 risk-free first bet.

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