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Genesis Invitational Preview & Picks - Best PGA Tour Picks For This Week

By Gary Emmerson

15 Feb 2023

Gary Emmerson 15 Feb 2023

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The Genesis Invitational takes place between February 16-19
The tournament takes place at the Riviera Country Club, California
Our 4 selections who could win on Sunday

The final leg of the West Coast Swing sees the strongest PGA Tour field this year competing at the Riviera Country Club for the prestigious Genesis Invitational title. Which golfer will lift the trophy come Sunday?

Joaquin Niemann will not be back to defend his title after victory in 2022 as he competes on the LIV Golf Tour.

Tournament host Tiger Woods will make his first regular PGA Tour start since the 2020 ZOZO Championship and play in his first tournament since the 150th Open Championship last year.

Past and present major winners in the line-up include Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Stewart Cink, Shane Lowry, Lucas Glover, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Danny Willett, Gary Woodland, and Tiger Woods.

These are our four selections that could lift the trophy this weekend.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas has been in great touch in his last six starts on the PGA Tour, placing T5 at the Tour Championship, T40 at the CJ Cup, 5th at the Hero World Challenge, T25 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, T25 at the Farmers Insurance Open and 4th at the recent Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Additional highlights from the American's performances last year include finishing T3 at the Valspar Championship, T8 at the Masters, T5 at the AT&T Byron Nelson, victory at the PGA Championship, 3rd at the RBC Canadian Open and T13 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The seventh world-ranked golfer has a good record at the Genesis Invitational, placing T41 in 2015, T54 in 2016, T9 in 2018, 2nd in 2019, MC in 2020, MC in 2021 and 6th in 2022.

Thomas looked good in his last tournament and can use that performance to challenge for victory at the Riviera Country Club.

Sungjae Im

Sungjae Im has been knocking hard to add another PGA Tour title to his resume by placing T8 at the Hero World Challenge, T13 at the Tournament of Champions, MC at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T18 at the American Express, T4 at the Farmers Insurance Open and T6 at the WM Phoenix Open.

Other noteworthy results the 24-year-old produced last year include finishing T11 at the American Express, T6 at the Farmers Insurance Open, T20 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T8 at the Masters, T21 at the RBC Heritage and T14 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

He was also T15 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, T10 at the Memorial Tournament, T2 at the 3M Open, T2 at the Wyndham Championship, 12th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T15 at the BMW Championship, T2 at the Tour Championship and 7th at the Shriners Children's Open.

The Korean has contested the Genesis Invitational three times, missing the cut twice before placing T33 in 2022.

Im has been in contention to win on numerous occasions but has not been able to get over the finish line. Can he finally do it this weekend?

Sam Burns

Sam Burns has been threatening to put in a winning performance on the PGA Tour in recent months by placing T20 at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational, T19 at the BMW Championship, 24th Tour Championship, T30 at the Sanderson Farms Championship, T7 at the CJ Cup, 12th at the Hero World Challenge, 32nd at the Tournament of Champions, T11 at the American Express and T6 at the WM Phoenix Open this past weekend.

Other prominent results achieved by Burns last year include two victories on the PGA Tour at the Valspar Championship and Charles Schwab Challenge.

He also finished T9 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T26 at the Players Championship, second at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, T20 at the PGA Championship and T4 at the RBC Canadian Open.

The 26-year-old American has featured at the Genesis Invitational four times, missing the cut twice but finishing T23 in 2020 and a credible 3rd in 2021.

Burns has had two top-ten places and two-top 15 finishes in his last five tournaments and has the game to produce a winning performance in California.

Jason Day

Jason Day has bounced back to form after struggling with consistency on the PGA Tour for most of 2022.

He placed T8 at the Shriners Children's Open, T11 at the CJ Cup, T21 at the World Wide Technology Championship, T16 at the Cadence Bank Houston Open, MC at the RSM Classic, T18 at the American Express, T7 at the Farmers Insurance Open and T5 at the WM Phoenix Open this past weekend.

Before that, the Australian's best results from last year were finishing T24 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T10 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, T15 at the Wells Fargo Championship and T17 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

The 35-year-old does not have a good record at this tournament, missing the cut in 2010, 2011, and 2022, with his best results being T62 in 2012 and T64 in 2017.

Despite that record, Day has been on an upward trajectory and offers excellent value at the Genesis Invitational this weekend.

Verdict

Genesis Invitational

Thomas will be confident with his current game after his recent performances and has a solid record at this event to come out on top in California.

Im has been ultra-consistent on the PGA Tour and will fancy his chances to win the Genesis Invitational.

Burns has been thereabouts and can feature prominently at the Riviera Country Club.

Day has been posting excellent results and has the form to upstage the others.

Justin Thomas

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Sungjae Im

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Sam Burns

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