The Genesis Invitational: Preview

The 2023 Genesis Invitational kicks off today, and there is a ton of buzz surrounding the event since it's coming right off the heels of the premiere of Netflix's "Full Swing", as well as serving as Tiger Woods' return to Non-Major competition.

The field is exceptionally strong as the majority of the the world's best players will be in attendance, vying for a piece of the $20 million purse. The odds on favorite is Jon Rahm (+700), who has won twice already this season and is coming off a 3rd place finish at the Waste Management Open. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler follow closely at +1,000, while fan favorite Tiger Woods is a long shot at +12,000. Another player to keep an eye on is Max Homa(+2,000), a Los Angeles area native and coming off a stretch of great golf over the last few months. It's also worth noting, four of Homa's six total PGA Tour victories have come in his home state of California, including one at Riviera in 2021.

Rivieria Country Club is a masterpiece, originally designed by the great (and underrated) George C. Thomas with help from William Bell. It opened in 1927 and remains in its original layout, even after several restorations by prominent course designers to restore features lost to weather related damage.

There are a number of notable holes at Riviera, but here are a few to watch:

• No. 2- The hardest hole on the course, it's a long par 4 with a large bunker short-left and a false front that creates as an optical illusion, making the green appear 30-40 yards closer than it actually is.

• No. 6- An extremely interesting par 3, that features a pot bunker in the dead center of the green and is guarded by a large bunker short center, and smaller ones back-center and left. Players will have to throw a dart to score here.

• No. 8- Isn't difficult, but is a visually interesting par 4 with 2 fairways separated by a waste area and sandy wash.

• No.10- This is Riviera's signature hole a drivable par 4, featuring massive bunkers and an interesting catch. The green is an oblong oval and only 10 yards wide.

• No.13- A par 4 that favors tee shots that draw, as the fairway bends left. The green is beautifully framed by five tall trees. Missing the green to the left will leave players in a man made barranca(a riverbed).

• No.17- A long, uphill, Par 5 littered with bunkers, leading to a multi-tiered green. If scoring is close coming down the stretch this could be the hole where the tournament is won, or lost.

• No.18- One of the finest finishing holes in golf. A blind tee shot to a fairway that favors a fade. However the fairway slopes left to right, so right handed players will have the ball below their feet, which will make the second shot fade right. This second shot will be into a green cut into a surrounding hillside covered in thousands of fans. That sets up about an unbelievably high pressure putt, or two..

This is the last leg of the California Swing and is shaping up to be a great tournament with all of the incredible players in the field. CBS will have the main coverage, but early coverage will be available to viewers on ESPN+.