Local Rule E-3: Preferred lies or the winter rules are implemented when a course is hit with inclement weather, including heavy rainfall. It allows a golfer to pick up the ball, clean the mud off it, and place it within one club length or six inches of the original spot.

The 100th edition of the Genesis Invitational was meant to be a celebratory return to Riviera Country Club. Instead, players have arrived at a course bracing for a storm. Although it is not a historically common practice at this tournament, the PGA Tour had to implement one of the most controversial rules.

After Thursday’s weather forecast, preferred lies was opted for round 1. A wind advisory was also in effect for Riviera Country Club through 9 pm Thursday.

The weather reports revealed that heavy rain of about half an inch is expected between 9 am and 11 am. However, a gust of over 34 mph might still be present. Accordingly, the PGA Tour had to opt for preferred lies. Interestingly, the rule has divided many golfers and enthusiasts by its very nature.

Update: Round 1 was later suspended due to rainfall, and  Scottie Scheffler‘s group, including Xander Schauffele and Si Woo Kim, could not continue playing.

The controversial rules and leverage provided by preferred lies are often disliked by golf enthusiasts as it goes against the traditional golf rules. This makes a golfer take the shot from where the ball originally landed. It is important to note that the rule is lifted as soon as the course becomes playable.

The update made its way when nearly every elite name was gearing up to tee off at the Riviera Country Club. Notably, 41 out of the top 50 players in the OWGR have appeared for the 2026 Genesis Invitational. Among those, the World No. 1 golfer is all set to leave a mark on one of golf’s trickiest green which has eluded even the likes of the great Tiger Woods.

Scottie Scheffler looks to soar above Tiger Woods by winning The Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods has won almost everything in his career so far. But the one golf course he has not been able to conquer is that of Riviera. Despite trying multiple times, the golfing legend failed to win The Genesis Invitational. As such, playing the tournament in 2026, Scottie Scheffler is looking to achieve something that even the US legend hasn’t.

Surprisingly, so far, Scheffler too has been riding the same luck as Woods.

Back in the 2017 US Amateur, Scheffler missed the cut with a double bogey on the par-4 10th hole. Next up, he also missed the cut for The Genesis Open in 2018 as an amateur. And that’s not all. After turning pro, Scheffler played five times at the Riviera. While he has posted four top-20s, the iconic golfer could never clinch victory.

“The grass provides a different set of challenges than we see throughout the rest of the year, and I feel like this golf course can be about as frustrating to play as any on Tour, just with the little tricks that it has to it. Overall, if you execute out here, you’re going to get rewarded for it,” Scheffler had said ahead of his latest participation.

Last year, Scheffler had recorded 18 consecutive top 10 finishes, which also included three wins. Even his worst performance was a T8. This year, too, Scheffler has had a strong start. In the three tournaments he has played so far, Scheffler has won one while getting a T3 and T4 finish in the other two. Considering his recent form, the possibility of him winning the tournament looks pretty promising.