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With Super Bowl LIX in the books, the NFL season has officially ended, making it the perfect time to shift focus to the other major sports still in full swing. While basketball and hockey are heating up, golf fans have plenty to look forward to as the PGA Tour moves into a crucial stretch of its season.
A great way to spend your Thursday through Sunday is by following the action on the course, where some of the game’s biggest names are set to battle for the Genesis Invitational title.
Last weekend’s Waste Management Phoenix Open delivered an unexpected result, as Thomas Detry secured his first PGA Tour victory in dominant fashion. Heading into the event, Scottie Scheffler was the heavy favorite to claim his third Phoenix Open win in four years. However, the world No. 1 struggled on Sunday, shooting +1 and fading from contention. Meanwhile, Detry closed with a six-under 66, finishing at 24-under par to win by a comfortable seven-shot margin over Michael Kim and Daniel Berger.
Detry’s win marked the sixth different champion in six PGA Tour events this season, a testament to the depth of competition in 2025. While parity has defined the early part of the season, Scheffler remains one of the game’s most consistent players. Still, he has yet to claim a victory this year, raising questions about whether he can finally break through at this week’s Genesis Invitational. However, with a loaded field featuring stars like Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas, securing a win won’t be easy.
This year’s Genesis Invitational takes on a new look, as the tournament moves from Riviera Country Club to Torrey Pines due to the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. The shift presents a fresh challenge for the field, as Torrey’s South Course is a demanding test of both accuracy and endurance. As the third Signature Event of the season, the field is significantly stronger than last month’s Farmers Insurance Open, with 72 of the world’s best players competing.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the week is the return of Tiger Woods, who has won at Torrey Pines eight times in his legendary career. However, at 250-1 odds, the 15-time major winner is more of a sentimental pick than a realistic contender. While Woods’ presence always adds intrigue, the real focus will be on players at the top of the odds board, including Scheffler and McIlroy.
McIlroy enters with momentum after his recent victory at Pebble Beach and has a strong history at Torrey Pines, with multiple top-five finishes in past events. Meanwhile, Scheffler’s stock has dipped following his disappointing 25th-place finish at the Phoenix Open. Despite his struggles, his elite ball-striking always makes him a threat, and a bounce-back performance wouldn’t be surprising.
One player who stands out as a top pick this week is Collin Morikawa. The two-time major champion is currently leading the PGA Tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green, an essential stat for success at Torrey Pines. He was also the best 72-hole performer at last year’s Tour Championship and has a strong track record at this course, finishing third at the Farmers in 2023. With his elite iron play, he should be in contention on Sunday.
Taylor Pendrith is another name to watch. The Canadian has quietly put together an impressive run, with 10 top-25 finishes in his last 11 events. He placed seventh at the Farmers Insurance Open last month, where he ranked seventh in strokes gained off the tee and tee-to-green. With back-to-back strong finishes at Torrey Pines, Pendrith could be a dark horse to contend this week.
Keegan Bradley also deserves attention. Despite juggling Ryder Cup captaincy duties, the former PGA Championship winner has remained in solid form. He finished second at Torrey Pines in 2023 and has multiple top-five finishes at this course. While his 65th-place finish at Pebble Beach last time out wasn’t spectacular, he did post two rounds of 69, suggesting he’s not far off from putting together a strong tournament.
Luke Lindholm is an avid basketball, baseball, football, hockey and soccer fan who specializes in writing promotional content for multiple sportsbooks and prediction-based articles across a variety of sports. His work has been featured on prominent websites including Sports Illustrated, Pickswise, Men’s Journal, TheStreet, Athlon Sports and more. He started as a college football handicapper for Pickswise in 2016 and is a current member of the Pickswise NFL handicapping team.