The US Professional Golf (PGA) Tour Genesis Invitational (Total Prize 2) to be held at the Riviera Country Club (par 71) in Palisades, near Los Angeles, California, USA for four days starting on the 17th (Korean time). $10 million) is expected to be the hottest golf tournament this year.
This is because ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA), who had disappeared from the regular PGA Tour tournaments for nearly seven months, was added to the list of participating players.
After missing the cut in the Open in July of last year, Woods did not participate in the PGA Tour regular tournament, saying that he needed more rehabilitation and training.
He showed up at the event, the PNC Championships, last December, but it was a two-day event and he rode a cart. His performance didn’t stand out too much.
This time, as it is a regular tour event where all four rounds must be played, it is an opportunity to observe how much Woods’ physical strength and performance have recovered.
Experts excluded Woods as a candidate for the championship. Gamblers also predicted that Woods’ chances of winning were very low.
Although Woods’ stamina and performance are recovering, it is analyzed that it is too early to reach the level where he can compete with young players for the championship.
However, the fact that Woods participated regardless of his performance and rankings heated up the competition.
His fellow players unanimously welcomed Woods’ return to the field, and the Genesis Invitational Organizing Committee expects the cloud gallery to flock.
Woods’ old relationship with the Riviera Country Club also became a hot topic again.
The Riviera Country Club, nicknamed “Augusta of the West,” is where Woods first got a chance to compete on the PGA Tour when he was in high school.
Woods participated in the PGA Tour LA Open held at the Riviera Country Club in 1992 when he was 16 years old as an invited player, and the following year he appeared as an invited amateur player.
Woods, who was born and raised an hour away from Riviera Country Club, is all too familiar with Southern California golf courses, but has never won 14 PGA Tour events at Riviera Country Club.
This is the only course where Woods has not won more than 10 times.
Woods has a terrible relationship with the Riviera Country Club, but since 2018 he has hosted the tournament and raised it to a special 토토사이트event.
From 2020 until last year, he fulfilled his role as the host by following the course all week even though he could not compete due to injury.
This year, he plays both the host and player.
Another point to watch is the second match between Scotty Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and Jon Rahm (Spain), who have built a strong ‘troika’ system this year.
Schaeffler, who regained the world No. 1 ranking by winning the WM Phoenix Open, is aiming for the championship for two weeks in a row.
McIlroy, who ended up with an unexpected result of a tie for 32nd at the WM Phoenix Open, the first PGA Tour event he participated in this year, looks like he will seek revenge.
Rahm, who won two wins this year and jumped on a terrifying uptrend, is aiming for three wins.
2022 champions Max Homa, Xander Chopley, Colin Morikawa, Patrick Cantley, and Justin Thomas (above the United States) are also considered candidates for the championship.
Lim Seong-jae (25) was also mentioned by experts as a player with a high chance of winning.
CBS placed Lim Seong-jae in 9th place in the winning probability. Sports Edge also predicted Lim Seong-jae as the ninth most likely to win, which is higher than Morikawa, Will Jaratoris, Cameron Young (above USA), and Victor Hoblan (Norway).
Lee Gyeong-hoon (32), Kim Si-woo (28), Kim Seong-hyeon (25), and Kim Joo-hyung (21) will also participate.
Kim Young-soo (34), who won the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour Genesis Championship last year, was also invited, and there are six Korean players.
Joaquin Niemann (Chile), who won the tournament last year, joins LIV Golf and cannot play.