The second Signature Event of the 2026 PGA Tour season commences Thursday with the Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California.
While many of the top golfers in the world vie for the year's second Signature Event title, there are more ways to bet the tournament than just who will emerge victorious on Sunday. For more instant gratification, we turn to the First Round Leader market to find value on who will sit atop the leaderboard when play comes to an end on Thursday.
Here are my favorite 2026 Genesis Invitational first-round leader picks and bets for Thursday.
2026 Genesis Invitational: First Round Leader Picks, Bets
Scottie Scheffler +1100 (FanDuel)
Now may be the time to buy low on Scottie Scheffler in the first-round leader market after back-to-back poor opening rounds. Slow starts have cost him in each of those two tournaments, as he went on to dominate the field over the final three rounds both times.
A strong start is likely to be a point of emphasis for him this week at The Riviera Country Club, a venue that suits Scheffler’s skill set. Riviera is a demanding course that requires precision with mid- to long irons and fairway woods, as roughly 74% of approach shots come from 150 yards or more.
That setup plays directly into Scheffler’s strengths. He ranks in the 99th percentile on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach from 150-plus yards. Despite his recent Thursday struggles, Scheffler has historically been an elite starter.
Last season, he led the PGA Tour in first-round scoring average.
Matt Fitzpatrick +3300 (bet365)
Another golfer worth targeting in Thursday’s opening round is Matt Fitzpatrick. Like Scheffler, Fitzpatrick excels with mid- to long irons, ranking in the 95th percentile on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach from 150-200 yards and in the 99th percentile from 200-plus yards.
Course length is especially relevant at Riviera. Last season, 23.4% of approach shots came from the 175-200-yard range, which is 36% higher than the PGA Tour average. This season, Fitzpatrick ranks 13th in birdie-or-better percentage from that distance.
Given those metrics, it is not surprising that Fitzpatrick finished T5 here in 2021. He was T2 after Thursday’s opening round that year, and at 33-1, he is worth consideration to deliver another strong start at this iconic venue.
