Genesis Open: Matchups to Watch

Genesis Open

The PGA Tour continues its West Coast circuit this week, as some of the best golfers in the world return to Riviera Country Club for the Genesis Open. It’s a stacked field that includes Tiger Woods.

The 9th hole at Riviera Country Club

The Genesis Open has added significance for the 14-time major winner, as it is organized by the Tiger Woods Foundation. Woods, however, has yet to win at Riviera. It’s the only course he’s played at least four times without winning, and this week’s star-studded field should make it tough to break the streak. It will be just the second tournament of 2019 for Woods.

Here are the matchups for NBC Sports Predictor:

Bubba Watson vs. Tony Finau

Bubba Watson has had a ton of historical success at Riviera, winning there in three of the previous five years. He’s the defending champion this week after shooting a final round 2-under-par 69 to finish at 12-under in 2018.  Tony Finau had a strong start to 2019, thanks in large part to his driver. He’s second on tour in driving distance, checking in at over 318 feet per drive. Finau finished in second at the Genesis Open last year, ending up two strokes behind Watson.

Watson: 16th in world. 3-time Genesis Open winner. Last tournament: T4 at Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Finau: 11th in world. Finished top 10 at 11 events in 2018 (zero wins). Last tournament: 38th at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Justin Thomas vs. Patrick Cantlay

Justin Thomas is fourth in the PGA Rankings with three Top-10 finishes, but has yet to win a tournament this season. He’s been playing well lately, leading the PGA with 5.5 birdies per round. Cantlay is very familiar with Riviera, having finished fourth at the Genesis Open in 2018.

Thomas: 4th in world. 3 tournament wins in 2018. Last tournament: 3rd at Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Cantlay: 18th in world. Four top-10 finishes in five events in 2019. Last tournament: Missed Cut at Farmers Insurance Open.

Tiger Woods vs. Matt Kuchar

Woods made his 2019 debut at Torrey Pines, where he finished T-20th at the Farmers Insurance Open. He will look to build upon an impressive comeback year in 2018. Matt Kuchar is ranked second on the world Money List, having already raked in over $2.8 million on the 2019 tour.

Woods: 13th in world. Seven top-10 finishes in 2018. Last tournament: T20 at Farmers Insurance Open.

Kuchar: 20th in world. Two wins in 2019. Last tournament: 22 at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Dustin Johnson vs. Xander Schauffele

While Watson has a really owned Riviera in recent years, Dustin Johnson is not far behind. Johnson was the 2017 Genesis Open winner, and has finished top 4 or better six times at Riviera over the last ten years. Xander Schauffele kicked off 2019 with a win in Hawaii at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

D. Johnson’s 2017 win at the Genesis Open

Johnson: 3rd in world. 12 top-10 finishes, three wins in 2018. Last tournament: 45th at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Schauffele: 7th in world. Made all six cuts so far in 2019, including two wins. Last tournament: 10th at Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Rory McIlroy vs. Jon Rahm

Rory McIlroy is playing Riviera for the third time in his career, having finished 20th in each of his first two appearances at the course. Jon Rahm has been one of the most consistent golfers on tour this season, racking up four top-10 finishes. His most recent success was earlier this month at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

McIlroy: 9th in world. Seven top-10 finishes in 2018. Last tournament: 5th at Farmers Insurance Open.

Rahm: 6th in world. Four top-10 finishes already in 2019. Last tournament: 10th at Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Bryson DeChambeau vs. Tommy Fleetwood

It’s early in the year, but Bryson DeChambeau is playing as well as anybody right now. Through three events DeChambeau is averaging a 68.75 per round, tied for the best score of any golfer on tour. Tommy Fleetwood is looking to build off of a strong 2018, when he made the cut at all four majors.  

DeChambeau: 5th in world. Nine top-10 finishes, three wins in 2018. Last tournament: 10th at Sony Open in Hawaii.

Fleetwood: 14th in world. Zero career PGA tour wins. Last tournament: 45th at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.