3 Best Bets for 2021 Genesis Invitational

• This weekend’s Genesis Invitational has a loaded field and is the biggest event on the 2021 schedule so far
• Beloved Riviera Country Club provides the backdrop in the hills of Pacific Palisades, CA
• Best bets and chatter on the week’s Tour event are within the piece below

With football season clearly in the rearview, the PGA Tour has been taking center stage on weekends – and the biggest event of the 2021 calendar year so far is upon us.

Fifteen of the top twenty players in the world descend upon historic Riviera off Sunset Boulevard in one of the most popular stops on Tour.

While fans won’t be in attendance, there’s sure to be fireworks in an uber-competitive field, and of course, there’s money to be made wagering.

With your potential winners and some sleepers covered, here are three plays I’m confidently putting on my card this week.

Pick 1 – Doug Ghim to Finish Top 20

All odds from DraftKings as of Feb. 17th

Ghim Has Strong Track Record at Riv

I know, starting with a guy who’s odds are as long as +550 to make the Top 20 against one of the most loaded fields of the year? Seems crazy on the surface, but watch Ghim’s 2017 US Amateur performance at Riviera and hear me out.

Now in his second full season as a Tour pro, Ghim’s iron play should be his meal ticket this week, as he ranks in the top thirty in both mid and long-iron proximity and has strong numbers around the greens as well.

He’s also been running hot on the California Swing, finishing top five at the American Express and within the top forty at the Farmers and last week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Success at Riviera hinges on your approaches into greens, and Ghim’s profile gives me confidence he’s worth a half-unit to pay off and finish inside the top twenty.

Pick 2 – Brooks Koepka Beats Adam Scott Head-to-Head

Expect a Motivated Brooks This Week

I’m heavily buying Brooks stock after his win out of nowhere two weeks ago in Phoenix at the Waste Management. He had been struggling with three straight missed cuts prior to the win as he worked through nagging injuries and a coaching change, but he should be locked in against a field full of his rivals.

While there’s cause for concern with Scott’s historical Riviera success against Koepka’s lack of any results of substance in LA, Brooks should be a shark this week with guys like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm in the field.

You’re technically getting an underdog price in the matchup (Scott is -118), and Koepka’s ability off the tee to set him up for wedges and under in on par four’s give him a good shot to post a great number this week.

For what it’s worth, Brooks’ +2200 odds to win this week seems like a great investment for a sprinkle as well.

Pick 3 – Marc Leishman to Finish Top 30

Big Leish Rounding Back to Form

After a quiet finish to 2020 which included a total implosion at the US Open from Winged Foot, Marc Leishman has looked like his old self so far in 2021.

Since the calendar turned, he’s finished inside the top thirty in the three events he’s played – including a T4 at the Sony Open – and is up to 44th in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, which is a key stat to monitor for this week.

The big Aussie also has historically played well at Riv, finishing top five twice since 2016. With his recent form and course history, Leishman is a great bet to once again finish in the top thirty and is my most confident pick this weekend.