The Genesis Invitational
This is another Signature Event. Typically, that means a limited field and No-Cut. However, this is one of the three Signatures this year that will have a cut after 36 holes. The Cut will be Top 50 and ties PLUS anyone within 10 shots of the leaders. A little “Masters-like” from the days of yore! Realistically, given the difficulty of the South Course, if you stay in the +2 to -2 range, I think you will be safe to play the weekend. I really don’t see -8 leading after two rounds but, you never know. Even so, I don’t see a lot of guys under par so, frankly, we may only lose a few guys.
We only have four guys priced at $10K or higher this week.
Highlights: Riviera Country Club – Par 71, 7300 yards (MOVED DUE TO LA FIRES)
Torrey Pines: South Course – Par 72 @ 7,700 yards. Thick rough!
The South Course has POA ANNUA greens while the North has Bentgrass. The key will be staying away from bogeys or worse. Bombers will have an advantage due to the length, but the fairways aren’t huge so the “Bomber-Sprayers” may not be as lucky.
NOTE: All pricing is based on DraftKings
** are my favorites in each category – could be pricing or the fact I think they play best.
$10,000 and Above
Play any of them that you like. With the Top four guys, you get:
- Scottie Scheffler ($12,300) – Expensive? Yes! Worth it? Most likely, yes. I’m not a resounding “YES!” because he’s not as white hot as he was last year (still coming back from a minor hand injury) and he doesn’t have a lot of history here. MC on 2 of 3 attempts. However, that was pre-#1 status!
- Rory McIlroy ($10,900) – $1,400 less than Scottie with the same number of previous events here, but Rory is T16-T3-T5. At least for this week, I don’t think the $1,400 buys you a lot more with Scottie. That said, Scottie will probably be in at least one of my lineups.
- Justin Thomas ($10,100) – the old JT isn’t back, but it’s close. T25 & T20 in two events at Torrey.
- Collin Morikawa ($10,000) – All three of the “non-Scottie” guys save you salary. Collin may be the “best built” to play this course. Rory and Justin can both get a little off the rails – at least more frequently than Collin.
If you are playing at least four lineups, I’d consider starting one with each of them. The ONLY downfall with Scheffler is the $1,400 to $2,300 of additional salary you will lose for the next five golfers you play. But, there’s plenty of talent in the $7K range.
$9,000 to $9,900
- Patrick Cantlay ($9,400)** – this may be an under the radar play this week since most of the attention will be on those $10K+ guys. Cantlay and Morikawa have played very well in recent U. S. Opens – which is how this course will play this week.
- Taylor Pendrith ($9,000)** – I’ve found myself wanting to play him this year. Of course, T9-T7-T45-T13 so far this season may be the reason. He’s played Torrey four times. His worst is a T60. All of his others are Top 20 (with two Top 10s).
- Ludvig Aberg ($9,800) – he withdrew a couple of weeks ago but that was due to an illness that isn’t an uncommon thing this time of year. He’s been T42 & T9 here. There’s just something about him that I trust to not make the big mistakes. That’s important this week.
- Hideki Matsuyama ($9,600) – Hasn’t missed a cut here in 9 years.
$8,000 to $8,900
- Tom Kim ($8,900)** – No history, but I’m looking for guys here that don’t blow up. This is one of those guys.
- Russell Henley ($8,600)** – Much like TK. He’s not flashy or extremely long, but he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes either. T5-T10-T30-T19 so far this season!
- Rasmus Hojgaard ($8,300) – This is a great price for a consistent player. No history here but T12-T22-T14 so far this year.
- Tony Finau ($8,200) – He’s my course history guy in this group. In ten years, he has 2 missed cuts and 8 Top 20s (which includes 6 Top 10s). Now, Tony isn’t playing like Tony right now, but I think this price will pay off dramatically.
- Sepp Straka ($8,000) – mediocre course history at Torrey but it’s hard to argue with the way he is playing right now.
- Thomas Detry ($8,000) – plays well here but you know how much I hate to play the prior week’s winner. However, $8K makes me feel a lot better about it and, at this price, we don’t need a win or even a Top 10 to pay off value.
$7,000 to $7,900
Oh yeah! This is the sweet spot this week!
- Will Zalatoris ($7,900)** – I just have a good feeling.
- Keegan Bradley ($7,700)** – Course Horse? T15-T43-2nd-T65-DNP-T16-T35-5th-T4! If not, the price and his consistent play sway me to play him.
- Min Woo Lee ($7,800) – need to play the guys that are playing well. No worse than T17 in the last month. Winner? No. Value? Most likely.
- Wyndham Clark ($7,300) – long and good with his irons. Three Top 20s so far this year too.
- Harris English ($7,600) – while not my favorite, you really can’t argue with a guy that just played this course three weeks ago and won.
- J. T. Poston ($7,200)
Under $7,000
- Daniel Berger ($6,900) – I think he’s getting his form back although it’s been choppy as far as finishes and cuts the last few weeks. Course history here isn’t good – ok, it sucks – but not many guys in this range are good.
- Gary Woodland ($6,600)** – coming back from brain surgery with a vengeance! Long and more accurate than most bombers. Good combo here!
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($6,700) – In good form and very inexpensive. Want to play Scottie and one of the other $10K guys in a lineup together? You will be visiting this Tier for the rest of your guys.
- Billy Horschel ($6,700) – He didn’t look good last week but I like this price at Torrey.
- Justin Rose ($6,400) – not as long as he used to be, but long enough! Probably the closest thing to a Course Horse in this range.
- Max Homa ($6,500) – Oh my! What’s with West Coast Homa? He typically plays well here but his recent form is similar to how I would play – albeit with a lot more distance. Keep him in your hip pocket. This is too low of a price even for the shitty play! Hardly anyone will play him because of that so, if he finds his form, you pick up points of the field.
Longshot(s)
- Nick Taylor ($6,600) – Hasn’t played here in a while but made the cut in his last 4 attempts at Torey. Plus, he’s playing well this season and a Top 25 at this price pays off.
- Michael Kim ($6,300) – impressive last week with a T2! This week will either continue his form or he will implode! He’s 25th in Driving Distance in the last 16 rounds so he has the length.
Ask questions on Discord if you have them. Make sure to tag me so I don’t miss it!
GOOD LUCK!!