Genesis Invitational 2026 is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, with a $20 million prize pool on the line. Hosted by Tiger Woods, the event runs from February 19 to 22. Last year, Ludvig Aberg won the Genesis trophy at Torrey Pines, but now, it is back at Riviera. The course is 7,383 yards long, and the redesigned par-3 fourth hole is 273 yards long, making it possibly the longest sea-level par-3 in PGA TOUR history. This is not a place for the weak of heart. Five players at the Genesis Invitational 2026 have extensive histories, skills, and current form, aiming to win.

1. Scottie Scheffler

When talking about winning, Scottie Scheffler’s name can’t be missed. His last two finishes at the Phoenix Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, that is, a T3 and a T4, respectively, show that he is indeed in solid form.

Scheffler is a whole different kind of player at Riviera. His elite ball-striking, scrambling, and putting accuracy make him the ideal player for every challenge Riviera presents. He has now finished in the top four in nine consecutive tournaments worldwide.

The +300 bet is a fair reflection of the market’s view; no one else in this field is currently working at his level. His T3 at last year’s Genesis, which ended at -9 after a slow start of +2 rounds, is a good example of who he is: slow to start but impossible to stop once he does.

If Scheffler is the ceiling, the man directly beneath it has his own claim on this course.

2. Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama previously owned Riviera. He won there in 2024, and over the years, he has had five top-11 finishes there. His last year’s result was T13 at the Torrey Pines tournament, with -4 on the leaderboard. There is a big difference between Torrey Pines and Riviera. His iron play, which is made for Poa annua greens, becomes a real weapon again when he goes back to the George C. Thomas Jr. layout he knows so well. At +2000, the market is essentially asking whether Matsuyama is worth a look.

If Matsuyama’s case is built on history, the next man’s is built on momentum.

3. Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood won the FedExCup in 2025 and opened 2026 with a personal-best T4 at Pebble Beach, his fourth top-four finish worldwide in that stretch. At last year’s Genesis, he opened +3 at a course that wasn’t his best but still clawed to T5 at -8, tying up with Tony Finau and Denny McCarthy.

His wedge play and putting on fast Poa annua greens are sharp right now. Riviera’s large greens are a good match for that. And +1800 for the FedExCup champion, arriving in his best current form, is the most straightforward bet.

Where Fleetwood brings momentum, the next man brings a freshly uncorked win.

4. Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa walked into Pebble Beach carrying 15 winless months, and ultimately, he walked out a champion. This gave him the confidence he needed to play in the second signature event of the season.

In 2022, he was the co-runner-up in Riviera, and then he finished at T6 in 2023, both built on the iron accuracy and fairway discipline. Last year at Torrey Pines, he finished 17th, thanks to the 5-under he shot in the final round.

+2800 for a player with proven Riviera form, a fresh win, and no pressure is the most underpriced number on the board.

Morikawa makes the case loudly, and our last final pick is a quiet one.

5. Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay doesn’t get as much attention as Scheffler or Matsuyama, but his record at Riviera is quietly impressive. He has had five top-15 finishes; three of them were top four. Rounds of +2, -2, -4, and -4 at Torrey Pines last year pushed him straight to a T5 finish. Moreover, he’s hitting 77.78% of greens in regulation this season, fifth on the Tour. At +2500, that’s underpriced for a course where holding greens decides everything.

The five names above have the best chance of winning the 2026 Genesis Invitational. But Riviera has never been a course that follows the plans. McIlroy (+1200) is overdue, Hovland is quietly dangerous, and Burns at +3300 is the kind of bet that looks bad in hindsight. Well, Sunday will tell the complete story!