PGA Picks: The Genesis Invitational Expert Predictions and Golf Odds

The recurring theme of the 2024 PGA season is the longshot. Last weekend, we saw another triple-digit underdog stand victorious at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Nick Taylor sunk a putt in a playoff against Charley Hoffman for the victory. That makes six straight events to start the season with at least a 90-1 underdog holding the trophy on Sunday. Now we turn our attention back to the iconic Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, for The Genesis Invitational Open. The event is hosted by Tiger Woods, and there is no shortage of talent up and down the board. Doc’s Sports will break down some of the best bets and longshots for this upcoming weekend.

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A Look at the Field

Here is a look at the Top 12 and ties with the lowest golf odds to win it all at online sportsbooks

Scottie Scheffler +650 – Rory Mcllroy +1000 – Viktor Hovland +1400 – Xander Schauffele +1600

Justin Thomas +1600 – Collin Morikawa +1600 – Patrick Cantlay +1800 – Max Homa +1800

Ludvig Aberg +1800 – Sam Burns +2000 – Jordan Spieth +2500 – Adam Scott +2800

Course Characteristics of Those Who Can Win or Secure Winning Golf Bets

The Riviera Country Club is a stiff test for opponents that plays at a par 71 and measures in at 7,322 yards. With the average fairway width at 34.2 yards, you would not expect its historical driving accuracy percentage of just 51.5%, the third lowest on the PGA Tour over the last 10 years. However, with its tight tree-lined setup, the average driving distance is 13th lowest on Tour and Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee-Difficulty is seventh hardest on the PGA. You will hear a ton of comparisons to Augusta National and to deal with Riviera’s tight corridors, players will have to shape the ball in both directions off the tee.

Wyndham Clark +3500

The 35-1 odds on a player that already has a victory this season and won a major last year, is too good to pass up in this situation. Clark lives for classical tests and he has backed it up here in the past with solid showings. In three career starts at Riviera, he has made the cut every single time and has finishes of 17th, 8th, and 33rd. His recent form has been built on good ball striking, ranking 10th, 20th, and 11th in SG Approach and 5th, 7th, and 36th in Tee to Green in his last three starts. I am looking for Clark to impress again at a major-esque venue.

Will Zalatoris +5000

Zalatoris missed the majority of the 2023 season with a back injury that required surgery. Expectedly, he was slow out of the gate finishing 20th at the 20-man Hero World Challenge and missed the cut at the Sony Open. His next two starts have given me optimism that he is finding a groove and returning to his old self. He finished T34 at The AmEx and T13 at the Farmers, where he gained strokes in every major category. He finished 4th last year at Riviera and at 50-1 odds, I am confident at backing Zalatoris for this price tag.

Corey Conners +8000

Conners’ numbers look too good to pass up and the trend of the longshot has piqued my interest as I believe his number should be in the 50/60-1 range. He is one of the PGA’s better ball-strikers on what can be described as a ball-strikers course. His history at Riviera is weak with three missed cuts on his resume, but I am willing to take a chance on Conners at 80-1 in a season where anyone can win on any day.

Golf Picks: Who to Consider This Week:

To win: Clark, Zalatoris, Conners

2024 season total: +1,105