Genesis Invitational preview: Tiger Woods returns to action in star-studded PGA Tour Signature Event

The Genesis Invitational 2024: Preview

The 15-time Major winner gets his PGA Tour comeback underway as playing-host amongst a stellar field in LA.

A scroll through the past champions at the Riviera Country Club is enough to plant seeds of doubt in the most confident of players ahead of the PGA Tour’s third Signature Event of the season.

It’s a course where the game’s biggest stars shine brightest. Watson, Couples, Kite, Faldo, Els, Scott, Mickelson, Bubba, DJ, and Rahm have all prevailed at the iconic Californian course.

However, the absence of one name in particular ‘makes no sense’, as 2021 Champion Max Homa puts it.

Golf’s most influential figure, who grew up 45 minutes from Riviera, has ‘only’ managed one runner-up finish and three top-10s from his 13 professional starts.

Not too shabby ordinarily, but Tiger has 15 Majors and 82 wins to his name and Riviera is a course, like Bay Hill, that many argue is perfectly matched to the super strengths of the best iron player of all time.

Can Tiger win this week?

The obvious question on everyone’s lips. Few will say it can’t happen, but many will believe a dream comeback in his first competitive outing on the PGA Tour since October 2020 is unlikely.

Tiger rounded off a disrupted 2023 season in which he underwent ankle surgery with appearances at the Hero World Challenge, and PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie in December.

The 48-year-old will also play host this week, a role he last undertook in the Bahamas for the Hero WC, where he finished 18th with rounds of 75, 70, 71, and 72, perhaps giving us the best insight into how Tiger may fare at Riviera.

The field was cut on level par and +1 in the last two editions, so making the weekend will likely be viewed as a successful return, particularly if he can kick on and finish under par for the tournament.

How will Tiger cope with four rounds?

This is probably the more poignant question this week. Riviera is not the easiest walk, even for those not battling plantar fasciitis.

It’s why Tiger is managing his schedule extremely carefully, targeting one event a month which TG columnist Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston believes will be key to sneaking ahead of Sam Snead in 2024 with a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour win.

“If he does as he’s planned and manages to play an event every month then I think we’ll see him win again in 2024, which would be an incredible achievement after all he’s been through. You just can’t rule him out,” said Beef.

After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Woods has demonstrated his Lazereth-esque qualities, having won the 2008 US Open on one leg and rising again to claim the 2019 Masters after multiple back surgeries.

Who is playing in The Genesis Invitational?

The top 30 players in the FedExCup standings, including 23 of the top 25 in the world rankings will tee it up alongside Tiger at The Genesis.

Among the Californian home-grown players competing at Riviera are Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Colin Morikawa, and of course – Tiger Woods himself.

A full list of the field can be found here.

Where is The Genesis Invitational being played?

The Genesis Invitational is played at the par 71, 7,322-yard Riviera Country Club, which will also host the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic golf event and the 2031 US Open.

The course has previously hosted the 1948 US Open, won by Ben Hogan, along with two PGA Championships in 1983 and 1995, and most recently, a US Senior Open in 1998.

Designed by architects George C. Thomas Jnr and William P. Bell, Riviera is considered by many to be one of the finest natural layouts in all of golf. Its most recent renovation took place in 2008 by Tom Fazio.

Despite no water hazards, Riviera’s tree-lined fairways and dog-legs make for one of the more demanding tee-to-green courses on the PGA Tour.

How much will the winner of The Genesis Invitational receive?

As a Signature Event in the PGA Tour’s reimagined 2024 calendar, The Genesis Invitational has a $20 million purse with the champion taking home $3.6 million.

The winner in 2024 will also receive 700 FedExCup points, 150 more than were on offer in 2023.

How to watch The Genesis Invitational

UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports Golf.

All times GMT

Saturday, February 17: Sky Sports Golf, 17.00

Sunday, February 18: Sky Sports Golf, 16.30

US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel.

All times EST

Saturday, February 17: The Golf Channel, 13.00

Sunday, February 18: The Golf Channel, 12.00

The Genesis Invitational: Tee Times

Tee times for rounds 3 & 4 can be found here.

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Golf Equipment Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.