The Genesis Invitational: Daily Fantasy Picks and Helper

After an electric finish at the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday, the PGA Tour returns to California for The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

This year, The Genesis Invitational is a signature event but will feature a 36-hole cut for the top 50 (plus ties) and any player within 10 shots of the lead. Tiger Woods is set to make his 2024 PGA Tour debut as part of a star-studded, 71-player field.

Here's all you need to know for this week’s signature event.

The Genesis Invitational Event Info

• Recent Winning Scores: -17, -19, -12, -11, -14
• Recent Cut Lines: +1, E, E, +1, E

Riviera Country Club Course Info

All course data from GCSAA unless otherwise noted.

• Par: 71
• Distance: 7,322 yards
• Average Fairway Width: 27.0 yards (narrow)
• Average Green Size: 7,500 square feet (tied for 4th largest on tour)
• Green Type: Poa annua (5th straight event played on Poa greens)
• Stimpmeter: 12.5

The Genesis Invitational Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach
• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Emphasis on Driving Distance
• Strokes Gained: Around the Green
• Strokes Gained: Putting
• Putting from 5-to-15 Feet

The Genesis Invitational Daily Fantasy Targets

These picks stand out relative to their FanDuel daily fantasy golf salary. All stats cited below originate at datagolf and reference ranks relative to the field over the past 50 rounds unless otherwise noted.

The Genesis Invitational Daily Fantasy Studs

Scottie Scheffler ($12,400 | +650)

Another week, another positive outlook for Scottie Scheffler, who is coming off a T3 finish in Phoenix. Scheffler leads the field in total strokes gained, strokes gained: tee to green, strokes gained: off the tee, and strokes gained: approach. His strokes gained: approach average (+1.67 per round) is more than double the fifth-ranked golfer, Tony Finau (+0.82).

The emphasis on distance at Riviera sets Rory McIlroy up for success, as well, but Scheffler has a significant edge in strokes gained: approach. Scheffler has gained at least 1.53 strokes on approach in all four of his starts this season; McIlroy has lost strokes on approach in two of his last four starts.

An above average number of approach shots at Riviera come from 150 to 200 yards -- a similar feature of TPC Scottsdale, where Scheffler just finished first in shots gained approach by a significant margin (+0.56 per round). Scheffler has finished T20 or better in his last three appearances at The Genesis Invitational and has gained strokes on approach in all five of his appearances.

Justin Thomas ($10,600 | +1600)

Justin Thomas’s excellent run of form continued last week with a T12 finish in Phoenix. He has now finished T12 or better in each of his last seven events -- and T6 or better in five of those seven.

Thomas’ summer slump in 2023 is still influencing his strokes gained data from his past 50 rounds, but over the past six months -- the period after that slump ended -- he ranks first in the field in total strokes gained and strokes gained: around the green, second in strokes gained: tee to green, and sixth in strokes gained: approach. He has three top-10 finishes in his last six appearances at this event.

Others to Consider:

• Rory McIlroy ($12,100 | +1000)
• Xander Schauffele ($11,300 | +1600)
• Sam Burns ($10,500 | +2200)

The Genesis Invitational Daily Fantasy Mid-Range Plays

Adam Scott ($9,700 | +3000)

Adam Scott, who won this event in 2020, is enjoying an excellent start to his season with five top-10 finishes in six events since November. He ranks sixth in the field in strokes gained: approach and 15th in driving distance.

Like Scheffler, Scott’s approach game was dialed in at TPC Scottsdale last week. He finished third in strokes gained: approach. In 15 appearances at events held at Riviera, Scott has 2 wins, 2 runner-up finishes, 10 top-20 finishes, and has only missed the cut once.

Nicolai Hojgaard ($9,500 | +6000)

Nicolai Hojgaard, who is making his Genesis Invitational debut this week, checks several boxes. He is 3rd in the field in distance, 12th in strokes gained: putting, 17th in strokes gained: approach, and 21st in total strokes gained.

In his six starts since November, he has two runner-up finishes and a win with only one finish outside the top 25. His struggles around the green are a concern at Riviera, but he still has one of datagolf's best course fits this week.

Others to Consider:

• Matt Fitzpatrick ($9,900 | +4000)
• Wyndham Clark ($9,700 | +4000)
• Byeong Hun An ($9,200 | +6500)

The Genesis Invitational Daily Fantasy Values

Emiliano Grillo ($8,900 | +11000)

Emiliano Grillo is coming off a T22 finish in Phoenix where he closed with a final-round 63 and finished fourth in strokes gained: approach. He ranks 18th in the field in strokes gained: putting and 35th in total strokes gained.

Grillo has made the cut in all five of his appearances this season and has finished T22 or better in four of those five.

Kurt Kitayama ($8,800 | +7500)

Kurt Kitayama also enters this weekend in excellent form, coming off a T8 finish in Phoenix. He ranks 23rd in the field in distance and ranks inside the top 34 in strokes gained on approach, around the green, off-the-tee, and tee-to-green.

He ranks 56th in strokes gained: putting, but he finished 11th in strokes gained putting at the WM Open last weekend. He missed the cut at his debut in this event last season, but did putt well, gaining an average of 1.20 strokes per round.

If he can pair his recent tee-to-green form with a similar putting performance, he could find success this week.

Others to Consider:

• Beau Hossler ($8,900 | +9000)
• Harris English ($8,800 | +11000)
• Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($8,300 | +12000)
• Adam Schenk ($8,100 | +12000)

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.