OutKick's Genesis Invitational 2024 Pick 'Em Challenge
We are launching an "OutKick Pick ‘Em Game" for the PGA Tour 2024 season starting with the Genesis Invitational 2024 at Riviera Country Club. This challenge is free to enter and easy to play. All you need to do is predict the winners and answer a few questions for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card.
Pick 3 Top 10 Finishers
My three picks just so happened to be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in my Genesis Invitational 2024 power rankings. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (-111), two-time major champion Collin Morikawa (+275), and rookie phenom Ludvig Åberg (+230). Scottie and Ludvig are two of the most powerful drivers in golf and Morikawa is the most precise ball striker. I placed outright bets on both Åberg and Morikawa pre-tournament and Scheffler has been inside the top 10 in 14 events since last year's Genesis.
Tiger Woods Round 1 Score: Over/Under 71.5
There's no way I'm fading Tiger this weekend. I don't want to be "that guy". Riviera is a Par 71 so this question is asking if Woods can shoot even-par to start the Genesis. Last year, Tiger shot two-under in Round 1 and I think he's healthier this season. Woods was driving the ball 300+ yards from his knees in a recent video with Barstool. If you told me Tiger didn't withdraw from the 2024 Genesis, this Under 71.5 in Round 1 is a lock.
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
H2H: Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy (-110)
Even though I included Scottie in my top-10 parlay above, I'm going with Rory over him in this head-to-head. McIlroy is just so much better at putting than Scheffler and Riviera has some of the trickiest greens on Tour. Scottie was the favorite to place inside the top 10 because he's the best ball striker in the game. But, McIlroy has the total package and I'll take him heads up against anyone.
H2H: Tommy Fleetwood vs. Collin Morikawa (-110)
This pick correlates with the 1st question. Plus, Morikawa has a much better course history at Riviera than Fleetwood. Collin finished T6 at last year's Genesis and solo 2nd in 2022. Fleetwood placed T20 at Riviera last season, T28 in 2019, and T37 in 2018.
Riviera is a "2nd-shot" golf course and Morikawa hits his irons as well as anyone. Collin ranks 5th in this field for Strokes Gained: Approach (APP) over the last 36 rounds and Fleetwood is 47th, according to Fantasy National.
(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Will there be a Hole in 1 at the Tournament?
The odds of there NOT being a "hole-in-one" at the 2024 Genesis are -200 while the "Yes" is +150. Since I'm not wagering any money on this pick, I'll take the heavy favorite and say a golfer won't do the hardest thing in sports: A hole-in-one.
What will the winner score in the Final Round?
I threw a dart and landed on "66". There's no way to forecast the winning score for the final round. But, because there's been a lot of rain dumped on Los Angeles recently, Riviera is going to be soft and score-able. With that in mind, I got the winning score being 20-under par so I'll divide that by four and go with a 5-under (66) final round.