Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from PoolGenius, whose subscribers have reported winning more than $10 million across all sports pools using their tools.
When looking for the best Genesis Invitational One and Done picks to use this week, resist the temptation to just click Scottie Scheffler and call it a day.
The Genesis Invitational has a $20 million purse with $4 million to the winner, making it one of the highest-paying events of the season. It ranks behind only The Players Championship and likely the Masters and U.S. Open once their 2026 purses are announced.
With that in mind, let's break down who to target and who to save for Golf One and Done Pools this week.
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2026 Genesis Invitational Field Overview
The Genesis Invitational returns to Riviera Country Club after last year's event was moved to Torrey Pines South due to wildfires. Tiger Woods hosts this tournament, and that shows in the setup. He wants major championship conditions, which means Kikuyu rough that punishes wayward shots and scoring that rarely gets out of hand.
Scottie Scheffler leads the way at the top of the odds board, but the depth behind him tells the real story. We have elite ball strikers like Rory McIlroy in the mix, Tommy Fleetwood fresh off a strong showing at Pebble Beach, and Xander Schauffele looking to build on his solid start to the year.
Past winners include Hideki Matsuyama, who captured this event twice and loves the demanding conditions here. Several other major champions are in the field, which makes sense given Riviera's reputation as a major championship-style test.
Genesis Invitational Odds to Win
Here are the top golfers by outright win odds as of Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 17:
- Scottie Scheffler +300
- Rory McIlroy +1100
- Tommy Fleetwood +1600
- Xander Schauffele +1800
- Hideki Matsuyama +2000
- Patrick Cantlay +2200
- Cameron Young +2500
- Collin Morikawa +2500
- Russell Henley +2800
Scheffler sits alone at the top, but that +300 price tells you everything about the decision you’re facing. He's the best player in the field, but using him here means burning your top asset early.
5 Best Genesis Invitational One and Done Picks (2026)
Keep in mind, there's no universal best pick without knowing your pool size, scoring, payout structure, used golfers, standings, and whether you're chasing or protecting a lead.
However, these five picks are strong candidates in many pool types because they balance win equity, future value, and projected pick popularity.
- Rory McIlroy: This is the week to pull the trigger if you're going to use Rory. He checks in with elite ball striking skills that perfectly match Riviera's demands. The distance advantage on this longer course gives him a real edge, and while he'll be popular, his win equity justifies the ownership. If you're looking for a premium play that's not Scottie, this is it.
- Tommy Fleetwood: Coming off a T-4 at Pebble Beach in his first PGA Tour start of the year, Fleetwood brings the exact skill set that thrives at Riviera. His accuracy off the tee becomes a weapon when others are fighting the tough rough, and his iron play has been consistently elite. The projected ownership is manageable, making him an appealing middle-ground option.
- Patrick Cantlay: Here's your contrarian play among the elite options. Cantlay sits in that sweet spot where he has legitimate win equity but figures to be less popular than the obvious names. His track record in big events is excellent, and he's the type of player who can navigate Riviera's challenges without making the big mistake that kills rounds here.
- Hideki Matsuyama: The two-time Genesis winner brings course history that's impossible to ignore. Matsuyama's iron play and comfort level at Riviera make him a logical choice, but the projected popularity gives you pause. In smaller pools, that might not matter. In larger fields, you might want to look elsewhere for differentiation.
- Russell Henley: Profiles perfectly as a future value savings play. Henley offers legitimate contention upside without the same long-term opportunity cost as the bigger names. His game travels well to demanding setups like this, and you won't lose sleep about deploying him here instead of saving him for a major.
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One of the trickiest parts of Golf One and Done pools isn't finding good players. It's understanding how your pick stacks up against the field and what it means for the rest of your season.
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The PoolGenius Golf One and Done Picks Tool handles all of that in one place. It combines win equity, future value, and projected pick popularity into a single pick grade, then pairs it with a season planner that shows how every decision impacts the rest of your year.
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