Genesis Open: Expert Picks

Tournament Information:

Genesis Open (formerly Los Angeles Open)
Date: February 14th – 17th
Course: Riviera Country Club
Purse - $7.4MM ($1.3MM to winner)
FedEx points – 500 to winner
2018 Winner: Bubba Watson (-12)

Course:

Riviera Country Club. Built in 1927 under the then Los Angeles Athletic Club, this event has hosted under the name Los Angeles Open dating back to 1929. At 7,300 yards, the par 71 course, the course runs pretty easy if you don’t get caught up trying to get ahead too quickly. Wind can be an obstacle at times across this longer course, especially without a lot of trees to block cross drafts.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

My Starting 4:

Bubba Watson — Two times winner here in the last three years, he’s coming off a 4^th place finish at the Waste Management Open, everyone is likely picking him this week.

Kevin Na — The only golfer who has finished in the top five each of the last two years here, Kevin has not have the best season thus far with one missed cut, three made cuts outside the top 50 and two top 20 finishes. He’s amazing around the green (3^rd in strokes gained) but he’s struggling off the green and approaching the ground.

Martin Laird — One golfer has top 12 finishes each of the last three years here and it is Martin. He is among the best putters right now and he is durable playing in nine tournaments this season which includes four top 30 finishes.

Dustin Johnson — Shortly behind Martin is Dustin who has been in the top 20 here each of the last three years. It’s not a bad season when 45^th is your worst finish and I think Dustin rebounds nicely at Riviera where he is comfortable with the play.

My Bench 2:

Jason Kokrak — It’s nice when even your bench 2 have a great track record here. Jason has finished in the top 25 each of the last three years here. Through six tournaments this season he has not missed a cut and he enters Genesis with three consecutive top 20 finishes. Jason is 19^th in birdie average!

Kang Sung-hoon — Another golfer with three straight years of top 25 finishes at the Genesis Open. Another durable golfer, he has been in nine tournaments with three missed cuts but also five top 30 finishes. He is in the 50’s in strokes gained approaching and around the green

2018 Stats:

Starting 4: Avg Finish 41^st place (32^nd percentile)
Bench 2: Avg Finish 67^th place (52^nd percentile)

Fun Factoid: The first winner here: Harry Cooper (1926) went on almost win a bunch of Majors. US Open: 2^nd place (twice), third place (twice), fourth place. Masters: 2^nd place (twice); fourth place (twice).