Golfers tee off on Hole 1, by the Riviera County Clubhouse in the Genesis Invitational.
FIRST ROUND ON THURSDAY:
Seventy-seven elite golfers teed off today at the Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades. Tournament host Tiger Woods is one of those competing for the $4 million first place and a 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe.
The tournament at the Riviera Country Club is one of the most historic and longest-running events on the PGA TOUR.
Genesis enters its eighth consecutive year of partnership with the PGA TOUR, TGR Live and TGR Foundation.
Woods will be joined by 18 of the top 20 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking, including Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark. The field will also include PGA TOUR’s Korean players, including Byeong Hun (Ben) An, Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, and Tom Kim.
This tournament was elevated, again, this year, making it one of the eight PGA TOUR signature Events for 2024. The tournament features a limited field, increased money and FedExCup points.
PRO-AM HOLE-IN-ONE:
Leading up to Thursday’s first rounds at the Riviera Country Club, was the Invitational Pro-Am on February 14. Justin Thomas made a hole-in-one on the 16th par 3, 166 yards.
To commemorate the spectacular shot, Genesis donated $50,000 each to Thomas and caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay’s charities of choice, the Justin Thomas Foundation and the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children.
“We were amazed to witness Justin Thomas’ hole-in-one achievement in the 2024 Genesis Invitational Pro-Am,” said Claudia Marquez, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. “At Genesis, we treat all those who interact with our brand as “son-nim,” or honored guests.”
During the regular tournament, the player with the first hole-in-one each day on the 14th hole each round will be awarded a Genesis GV80, while his caddie will receive a Genesis Electrified GV70. In addition, the first player to ace the 16th hole each round will win a Genesis GV70, and his caddie will take home a Genesis GV60.
Last year, Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods watch as Rory McIlroy tees off in the second round.
COLLEGIATE SHOWCASE:
Fifteen of the top college golfers competed in the 10th Collegiate Showcase on February 12 at the Riviera.
Tied at the end of regulation was Cole Rueck (Boise State University) and Petr Hruby at even (71). It took two extra playoff holes, before Rueck made a short birdie on the 11th green to secure the victory.
The second competition, a team competition, saw the amateur group playing with Hruby win and a $50,000 donation was made to the University of Washington golf program.
Rueck’s win secured him an exemption into the Genesis Scottish Open (July 11-14).
In prior years, the collegiate champion was given an exemption at the Riviera, but Genesis Invitational’s criteria for granting sponsor exemptions has changed since the event has now become a player-hosted Signature Event on the PGA TOUR. That means that Collegiate Showcase winners no longer have an exemption to play in The Genesis Invitational.
Past showcase winners include Will Azlatoris, Sahith Theegala and Scottie Scheffler.
Sahith Theegala played with Will Zalatoris and JJ Spaun in last year’s Genesis..