The Genesis Invitational betting tips: Tiger Woods hosts at Torrey Pines with Scheffler favourite

The Genesis Invitational: Things to consider

Tournament host Tiger Woods had committed to play in the Genesis Invitational which will be held at Torrey Pines rather than Riviera CC in 2025 following the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. 

Unfortunately, he withdrew on Monday. But we got a great primer for this tournament with the Farmers Insurance Open having been held at this course only a few weeks ago.

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Woods said: “We are grateful to the City of San Diego and Torrey Pines for hosting the 2025 Genesis Invitational, and to everyone who has reached out in support of the tournament."

The Genesis Invitational is the third ‘signature event’ of the season with Hideki Matsuyama winning the Sentry and Rory McIlroy triumphing at Pebble Beach. 

Last week at a great event in Phoenix it was Thomas Detry who blitzed the WM Phoenix Open field, while Emiliano Grillo bagged himself a slam dunk hole-in-one at the par 3 16th to raucous celebrations. 

Detry was three off the lead after day one, a fast start you could say, It’s always interesting to analyse how this can affect the first-round leader betting going into the decisive rounds later in the week. 

It is a much bigger purse this week with £16.15m up for grabs with the winner's cheque a whopping £3.23m. The Genesis is one of the ‘signature events’ with a cut and the top 50. Those within 10 shots of the lead will go through to the weekend.

The Genesis Invitational: Top of the market

The top 50 from last year’s FedEx Cup are in the field along with numbers 51-60 from the ‘fall series’ rankings (Aon Next 10). The ‘Aon swing’ 5 are the top points earners from the Sony Open, AMEX, Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open. 

Those five along with this year’s tournament winners who were not yet exempt into The Genesis Invitational were rewarded with spots in the field. 

Scottie Scheffler leads the Genesis Invitational betting odds at 9/2 (BetMGM) but is yet to hit fifth gear following an injury layoff. 

Rory McIlroy 7/1 (Betway) will be looking to continue where he left off ahead of a crucial season for him while Ludvig Aberg's driving ability makes him a standout here. 

Aberg as we know ranks high in the driving stats and was fourth in ‘total driving’ in 2024. 

He was the first-round leader at the Farmers Insurance Open shooting 63 albeit that was on the North Course. 

Collin Morikawa is third in the Genesis betting market at a general price of 14s while a resurgent Justin Thomas comes in at 18/1 with Spreadex. 

Talking about a resurgence, Thomas’ good friend Jordan Spieth went 34 holes bogey-free in Phoenix and he can be backed at 40/1 with BetMGM.

Jason Day, 33/1 with Betway, is a two-time winner at Torrey Pines.

The Genesis Invitational: Course fit

The course layout can be a decisive factor in your golf betting strategy. As we know the south course at the San Diego-based golf club is a beast and one of the longest on tour, playing around 7,765 yards to a par of 72. 

Long and straight driving is key as the rough was up a few weeks ago. High approach shots into relatively small but tiered greens are required and a left to right shot shape is preferred. 

At Torrey getting up and down is tough and Poa Annua (annual bluegrass) greens are tricky. So, who else fits the profile this week?

Hideki Matsuyama has started the season with a vengeance, and he owns a fine record at Torrey Pines. He has a very high course fit for Torry south. 

Matsuyama ranks ‘fifth in strokes gained tee to green’ and 10th in approach performance in 2025 and he’s flying in ‘proximity to the hole’. His recent form line at Torrey Pines reads 26-39-9-13-32 and his best finish there before that was a third place. 

Of course, Matsuyama will be defending the Genesis Invitational trophy that we won at Riviera CC in 2024.

Patrick Cantlay has made a slow start to the season choosing to play only a few events. He has managed T15, T5 and T33 finishes. Cantlay’s best finish at Torrey Pines is a 15th-place finish in 2021 which was in the US Open held here. 

The American number 15 in the world is fourth in ‘greens in regulation’ and 11th in ‘strokes gained around the green’. Cantlay was the first round leader at the Farmers in 2024. 

Adam Scott is a two-time winner of the Genesis at Riviera CC and you can back him at 70/1 with BetMGM to get the job done at Torrey Pines south course.

FIRST’s top tip for The Genesis Invitational

Ludvig Aberg is a perfect course fit for Torrey Pines, and he appears to have fully recovered from his illness. Back the athletic Swede to win the golf tournament at 25/1 (six places) with Spreadex.

Extra tips

Hideki Matsuyama has started the season on fire and loves Torrey Pines south. He can use his tee-to-green prowess to challenge hard. Go with the former Masters champion at 20/1 (seven places) with Betway.

Patrick Cantlay will be looking to have a bounce back season and can use his short-game skills at Torrey. Back the American each way at 25/1 (seven places) with Betway.

The Genesis Invitational: Value bets

Detry (50/1 BetMGM) was a ‘greens in regulation’ machine last week and he has the perfect tee-to-green game to keep it going at Torrey Pines for the Genesis. 

He has progressive course form figures of 37-20-15. Detry is ranked 14th in ‘strokes gained: off the tee’ in 2025 and 40th in ‘greens in regulation’.

Local Michael Kim (100/1 Mr.Play) went to school beside the course and was T2 on 17-under par in Phoenix. He has put in some good performances on his home track (Torrey Pines) previously. Kim’s scoring average over nine Farmers Insurance Opens is 72.5.

While his brother Nicolai finished second in this event in 2024, The power Rasmus Hojgaard (40/1 with Mr.Play) holds from the tee is something to watch on the south course at Torrey Pines. Rasmus finished a solid 12th last week in Phoenix. 

Gary Woodland (90/1 with BetMGM) knows this track more than most with 16 events to his name here. He owns several top 20s and he is simmering again this season with his last three events seeing him finish in the top 25. 

Woodland is ranking 6th in total driving which will stand him in good stead for the test the Torrey Pines south course will provide.

FIRST’s top value tips for The Genesis Invitational

Detry is riding the course fit and current form train. Confidence will be high after his maiden win. Back him each way at 50/1 (six places) with BetMGM.

Rasmus Hojgaard can use his power to dominate here at Torrey Pines and could be a surprise challenger. Back him each way to be top European at 11/1 (three places) with BetMGM.

Gary Woodland has some current and course form to his name and his game suits Torrey south. Back him to make the cut and to finish top 20 at 9/4 with Spreadex.

Michael Kim is a local who knows the course well. Back him for a top 20 at 5/2 with Spreadex, and to make the cut.

Odds correct at the time of writing.