Collin Morikawa aims to clinch his second consecutive PGA Tour victory after triumphing at last week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Morikawa will compete this week at the 2026 Genesis Invitational held at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. As one of the leading contenders, he faces stiff competition from Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one, along with seasoned players like Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. Scheffler enters the tournament as the favorite, with FanDuel odds placing him at +300.
Details of the 2026 Genesis Invitational Field and Venue
The 2026 Genesis Invitational will begin Thursday with the first tee times set for 10:15 a.m. ET at Riviera Country Club, a par-71 layout spanning 7,383 yards. With a prize fund of $20 million, the tournament features several notable players among the favorites, including Rory McIlroy (+1100), Xander Schauffele (+1900), Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama (both at +2000), and Collin Morikawa (+2500). The defending champion, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, is listed at +4000 odds after narrowly edging out Maverick McNealy by one stroke in the 2025 event.
Golf Expert Brady Kannon’s Take on 2026 Genesis Invitational Picks
Before finalizing any picks for the Genesis Invitational, fans should consider insights from golf handicapper Brady Kannon, who brings over 30 years of experience and a strong track record of success in PGA betting. Kannon has accurately predicted eight major tournament winners since 2013 and has had several notable victories, including the 110-1 upset win by Harris English at the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open. His fall 2022 streak saw him nail three straight outright winners: Russell Henley at 40-1, Tony Finau at 18-1, and Adam Svensson at 150-1.
Last season highlighted Kannon’s skill with picks such as Hideki Matsuyama (22-1) and Tommy Fleetwood (14-1), as well as a 22-14-4 record on head-to-head bets since joining SportsLine. Now, Kannon has turned his focus toward locking in the best bets for the Genesis Invitational, including sleepers to consider and players to firmly avoid.
Why Brady Kannon Recommends Avoiding Tony Finau in 2026
Among Kannon’s headline predictions is a clear recommendation to avoid Tony Finau both in outright and head-to-head bets. Despite his long odds, Kannon warns that Finau’s recent form does not inspire confidence.
“Even at triple-digits, it is not high enough on Finau who continues to struggle,”
Kannon told SportsLine.
He explained Finau’s difficulties this season, noting,
“In five starts this season, he has missed three cuts. Yes, he made it all the way to a playoff here in 2021, but 2026 has been a complete turn-around, in the wrong direction, for Finau. Torrey Pines has been arguably the course at which Finau has seen the most success in his career. He finished 11th there a few weeks back but if you must also realize, he ranked 51st in the field that week for SG: Around the Green.”
Last Week at Pebble Beach, Finau had a solid week, finishing 18th, but he ranked 76th in that field for SG: Off the Tee and 58th around the green. He was No. 1 at Pebble for SG: Putting and that is not a typical strength of his game. I suspect it will not carry over to this week. Finau will likely get his game figured out eventually but I don’t expect it to get straightened out here at a golf course this difficult and against a field this stacked.
Strategies for Making Smart 2026 Genesis Invitational Selections
Brady Kannon has also revealed his top outright pick for the Genesis Invitational, a less expected golfer with odds exceeding 60-1 who fits the Riviera course perfectly. While Kannon keeps his specific selections exclusive to SportsLine, he emphasizes the importance of backing players who offer an ideal blend of form and course compatibility to capitalize on high-value odds.
Comprehensive Look at the 2026 Genesis Invitational Odds
The tournament features a deep and competitive field with odds updated through FanDuel. Scottie Scheffler leads at +300, followed by Rory McIlroy (+1100), Xander Schauffele (+1900), Hideki Matsuyama (+2000), Tommy Fleetwood (+2000), and Collin Morikawa (+2500). Other notable names with longer odds include Patrick Cantlay (+2700), Russell Henley (+3000), Cameron Young (+3000), and Ludvig Åberg (+4000). Tony Finau is positioned at +10000, reflecting the skepticism surrounding his current form.
Here is a snapshot of key contestants and their odds (subject to change):
Scottie Scheffler +300
Rory McIlroy +1100
Xander Schauffele +1900
Hideki Matsuyama +2000
Tommy Fleetwood +2000
Collin Morikawa +2500
Patrick Cantlay +2700
Russell Henley +3000
Cameron Young +3000
Matt Fitzpatrick +3300
Jake Knapp +3300
Sam Burns +3500
Chris Gotterup +3500
Min Woo Lee +3500
Ludvig Åberg +4000
Viktor Hovland +4000
Robert MacIntyre +4000
Sepp Straka +4000
Maverick McNealy +4000
Ben Griffin +4000
Harris English +4000
Justin Rose +4500
Rickie Fowler +4500
Jason Day +5000
J.J. Spaun +5000
Adam Scott +5500
Keegan Bradley +5500
Shane Lowry +5500
Akshay Bhatia +5500
Jordan Spieth +6000
Pierceson Coody +6000
Ryan Gerard +6000
Kurt Kitayama +7500
Taylor Pendrith +7500
Max Homa +7500
Nick Taylor +7500
Alex Noren +8000
Wyndham Clark +8000
Jacob Bridgeman +8000
J.T. Poston +8000
Sahith Theegala +8000
Harry Hall +8000
Patrick Rodgers +10000
Samuel Stevens +10000
Denny McCarthy +10000
Corey Conners +10000
Ryo Hisatsune +10000
Tony Finau +10000
Max Greyserman +10000
The Stakes and What to Expect Going Forward
The 2026 Genesis Invitational promises high drama as a star-studded field gathers at one of golf’s most challenging courses. With a hefty $20 million purse at stake, players will need to be at the top of their game to claim the title. Fans and bettors should heed expert advice, particularly warnings against fading players like Tony Finau, whose recent struggles raise serious doubts about his performance this week. Meanwhile, smart gamblers will look to capitalize on sleepers and top contenders with strong course fits and favorable odds.
As the tournament progresses, tracking player form and course conditions will be critical for making well-informed picks. The insights from Brady Kannon, backed by decades of betting success, offer valuable guidance to navigate a highly competitive 2026 Genesis Invitational.
