PGA DFS Playbook - Genesis Invitational

It’s sad when a player finishes Top 10 and feel like it’s a disappointment but that’s what happens with Jon Rahm.  If he doesn’t win or finish Top 3, we look down on him now.  He has made the cut in all three of his trips to Riviera with two Top 10 finishes.  This is a week you can fit him into your lineups with all the value at the bottom of the pricing sheet.

He just continues to dominate every single week that he tees it up.  The 2021 PGA Player of the Year picked up where he left off last season.  Since winning the Tour Championship, he’s made all four cuts and hasn’t finished lower than ninth in any event including his playoff loss to Scottie Scheffler last week in Phoenix.  The iron play has been fantastic and the putting is always superior to most every player on tour.  He’s made the cut four straight trip to Riviera with a Top 5 in 2018 and no finish below 17th.

The former number one player in the world took most of the fall and early winter off but got tuned up a few weeks ago at the Farmers with a Top 25.  Riviera is his jam, second in all time earnings at this event with eight straight cuts made with a win in 2017, two runner ups, and another four Top 10s.  There aren’t a lot of stats to go on this season but we all know what DJ brings to the course and I’ll be rostering him everywhere this weekend. 

The dude just keeps doing what he does best, finish Top 20 almost every time he tees it up on the PGA Tour.  After a rare 34th at the Farmers, he bounced back with a 3rd place at the Waste Management last week.  He also has a Top 20 at the CJ Cup and started 2022 with a 12th at the Sentry.  He has made the cut in all four trips to the Genesis with a Top 10 in 2018 and no finish lower than 23rd. 

It’s time to talk about the sweet swing Norwegian for the first time in 2022.  Before last week’s missed cut at the Waste Management, he had been playing really good golf in the middle east.  The 24-year-old already has three wins under his belt and he’ll be in contention for his fourth at Riviera this weekend.  He finished fifth in his debut at this event last year.  He ranks 3rd in Birdie Average, 10th in Greens in Regulation, 19th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, and 36th in Strokes Gained: Approach.  

After a fantastic start to 2021-2022 season for Sam Burns with a win, and two other Top 10s during the fall portion.  It has been a struggle since the start of 2022 with back to back missed cuts.  I’m going to take another shot on Burns heading into the Riviera because of his skill set.  He finished 3rd at this event last year.  Burns ranks 6th in Birdie Average, 6th in Greens in Regulation, 11th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, and 37th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.  I’m hoping his ownership will be depressed because of the recent struggles.  

Scottie paid off big time with a win at the Waste Management.  He came from behind to catch Patrick Cantlay and win it in a playoff.  The 25 year old is coming off of his first career win and I feel like this will open the floodgates for the former Texas Longhorn.  He ranks 7th in Birdie Average, 15th in Scoring Average, 19th in Greens in Regulation, 34th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.  The big factor has been his putting ranking inside the Top 30 for the season.  He’s finished better in each of his first two appearances at the Genesis; 30th in 2020 and 20th in 2021. 

Since his win at the Shriners this fall, he has just one missed cut and four finishes of 11th or better.  He comes into this weekend at the Genesis on the back of a 6th at the Farmers.  It’s looking like a bounce back season for Im.  He ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 4th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, 7th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 8th in Green in Regulation, 9th in Scoring Average, and 21st in Driving Accuracy.  Yes, he has missed the cut in both of his trips to the Genesis, but he’s playing so much better right now.  I’m going to believe in the man.

The defending champ started the 2021-2022 with a win at the Fortinet but struggled the rest of the fall schedule.  He’s one of the better overall players from driver to putter in his bag.  He is a premiere ball striker finishing last season Top 40 in Strokes Gained Approach.  He’s improved each trip to Riviera missing the cut his first time, 37th in his second, 5th in his third and winning it last year.  He will be highly owned but I think the price tag is solid for what he brings.  

The terrific start to the 2021-2022 season came to a crashing halt at the American Express.  That ended a streak of 10 straight cuts made but has finished 20th and 26th in his next two starts.  The ball striking has been fantastic and his short game has been on point this season.  Gooch ranks inside the Top 21 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Around the Green, and Tee to Green and Greens in Regulation.  He is going to be a cornerstone play for me this weekend at this price tag.  He has a great record at the Genesis with three cuts made and finishes of 20th, 12th and 10th.   

After a nice long break for the veteran, he returned to action at the Dubai Desert Classic and finished inside the Top 15.  While he hasn’t played a lot of golf, he loves this golf course and tournament.  Casey has made the cut in eight straight trips and has a runner up finish in 2015.  We all know the type of player Casey is and what he brings to the course every time he tees it up.  He can strike the ball better than most everyone in the world and that’s why he’s a great play this weekend at Riviera.  

While he haven’t seen him in the U.S. in quite awhile, he has been playing all over the world.  He won in Abu Dhabi and finished Top 12 at the Dubai Desert Classic.  He ranks 15th in Driving Accuracy, 19th in Greens in Regulation, and 19th in Stroke Average on the European Tour this season.  While he hasn’t played in this event since 2018, he does have a runner up finish under his belt.  I think he’ll make for a bit of an under the radar play this weekend.

Tringale had four Top 10 finishes last year and has three already this season.  That only problem is that he’s been boom or bust.  He either misses the cut or finishes Top 10.  He is one of those players who is pretty consistent throughout the bag and no glaring weakness.  In his last nine trips to Riviera, he has made the cut all but one year and has six finishes of 30th or better (Top 10 in 2017).  I like him even more knowing he’ll be lower owned especially where he is located on the pricing sheet.   

Griffin has got something going this season with three Top 10 finishes and just one missed cut thus far.  That includes a third place finish at the American Express.  He fits the mold with his iron play and flat stick ranking 51st or better in Strokes Gained: Approach, Tee to Green and Putting on the season.  He’s also Top 25 in Scoring Average.  He has made the cut in both of his trips to Riviera with his best finish of 26th coming just last year.  He is one of my favorite value options this weekend.

This stud Italian has found his groove at the American Express finishing 6th.  While the last two starts haven’t been much to write home about, he did make the cut at both tournaments.  Francesco showed us all last year why short hitters can still have success on this golf course finishing 8th.  He can keep the ball in the short grass and if you can do that consistently over the four days, you’ve got a shot.  Molinari will never be the flashiest pick but at this price tag, you want someone that can make the cut.

This is a true course history over recent form play.  Hahn has missed the cut in his last four starts.  Yes, I know that isn’t good but if you want to try to fit two top tier players into your lineup, you have to be less picky in this price range.  James has made the cut in four of his last five trips to Riviera with three finishes of 15th or better.  Despite those struggles this season, he still ranks Top 35 in both Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and Approach.  The ball striking is still there but he needs that putter to get going and he’s got a good history on poa annua. 

Wyndham did have a streak of six straight cuts made before last week at the Waste Management.  Over that span, he scored two Top 25 finishes.  This guy defies what should be successful at Riviera because he’s extremely long off the tee but also extremely inaccurate.  Despite that, he has finished 8th and 17th in his two trips to the Genesis.  The putting is always there for Clark, he ranks inside the Top 25 on tour in that category.  I love him as a tournament play this weekend. 

This Scotsman has four career wins on the PGA Tour.  He has been playing better of late finishing Top 15 at the Waste Management last week.  In his last six trips to Riviera, he has two missed cuts but three finishes of 11th or better.  He has a very well rounded game from tee to green.  He ranks 12th Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 23rd in Scoring Average, 26th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, and especially 31st in Driving Accuracy despite hitting the ball over 300 on a consistent basis.  Not saying he’s gonna go out there and finished Top 5 but he can get you a Top 20 at a pretty nice price tag.