The 100th edition of The Genesis Invitational was supposed to be a big celebration at Riviera Country Club, but bad weather has changed the focus. Instead of just competing, the PGA Tour is now trying to make sure the tournament can even be completed.
Due to heavy rain and strong winds — with gusts up to 34 mph and about half an inch of rainfall expected — officials announced that “preferred lies” will be used in the first round. This rule allows players to lift, clean, and place their ball within a short distance of where it originally landed. Many traditional golf fans dislike this rule because it goes against the idea of playing the ball exactly as it lies.
Despite the tough weather, 41 of the world’s top 50 players are in the field. The spotlight is on world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is aiming to win at Riviera — a course that even Tiger Woods never managed to conquer.
Scheffler has had a strong career but has struggled at Riviera. As an amateur, he missed the cut at the 2017 U.S. Amateur and the 2018 Genesis Open. As a pro, he has played Riviera five times, finishing in the top 20 four times but never winning.
However, Scheffler comes into this tournament in great form. He has recorded 18 straight top-10 finishes, including three wins, with his worst result being a tie for eighth. This season, he has already won once and finished T3 and T4 in his other two events.
Now, despite the storm and controversial rule changes, Scheffler hopes this will finally be the year he conquers Riviera.