The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in southern California, first played 98 years ago in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open.^[1] Other previous names include Genesis Open, Northern Trust Open and Nissan Open. Played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, it is often the concluding event of the tour's "West Coast Swing" early in the calendar year, before the tour moves east to Florida.

Quick Facts Tournament information, Location ...

Genesis Invitational

Tournament information
Location	Pacific Palisades, California
Established	1926[1]
Course(s)	Riviera Country Club
Par	71
Length	7,322 yards (6,695 m)[2][3]
Organized by	Tiger Woods Foundation
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US$20,000,000
Month played	February
Tournament record score
Aggregate	264 Lanny Wadkins (1985)
To par	−20 as above
Current champion
Hideki Matsuyama
Location map
Riviera CC Location in the United States Show map of the United States Riviera CC Location in California Show map of California

Close

The tournament has been held at Riviera on a near-continuous basis since 1973. South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group, through its Genesis Motors subsidiary, took over sponsorship in 2017, after nine seasons from Northern Trust Corporation, based in Chicago, following a 21-year sponsorship by Nissan Motors. Entertainer Glen Campbell was the celebrity host of the Los Angeles Open from 1971 through 1983.^[4][5][6]

Listed by most recent

Not held in 1943

^ one round of the first two was played on the adjacent Harding course

Riviera CC

Valencia CC

Rancho Park GC

Brookside GC

Inglewood CC

Fox Hills CC

Locations in L.A. metro area since 1945

Prior to World War II, the event led a nomadic existence in southern California, moving from course to course. The inaugural event 98 years ago in 1926 was played at Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles;^[7] in 1927 the event moved to El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana for the only time.^[8] In 1928, the event moved again to Wilshire Country Club in the Hancock Park neighborhood, and 1929 and 1930 saw the event's first foray to the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades before returning again to Los Angeles for the next decade. From 1931–1933, the event alternated between Wilshire CC and Hillcrest Country Club, before returning to Los Angeles CC from 1934–1936. From 1937–1939, the event was played at Griffith Park (Wilson course)^[9] and again at Los Angeles CC in 1940.^[10] Babe Zaharias played in the 1938 event,^[11] being the first woman to play in a professional golf tournament for men.

In 1941, the event returned to Riviera CC and in 1942 was played again at Hillcrest CC before World War II intervened.

The event started up again in 1944 at Wilshire CC before spending the next nine years (1945–1953) at Riviera CC, which also hosted the U.S. Open in June 1948, won by Ben Hogan in a record score. In 1954, the event was played at Fox Hills Country Club (now in Culver City) and in 1955 moved to Inglewood Country Club. From 1956–1972, the event returned to Los Angeles at Rancho Park Golf Course, with the exception of 1968, which was at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena, adjacent to the Rose Bowl.^[12] In early January 1962, 21-year-old Jack Nicklaus made his professional debut at the Los Angeles Open – his 289 tied for 50th (last place after the cut) and earned $33.33 in prize money.^[13][14]

The L.A. Open was traditionally the first event of the season, played in early January; it was a late January event in 1967 and 1968, and moved to the latter half of February in 1974. The year before, it began its current relationship with Riviera CC. The tournament has only twice been played at other courses since: Rancho Park Golf Course in 1983, while Riviera prepared to host the PGA Championship, and Valencia Country Club in 1998, while Riviera prepared to host the U.S. Senior Open. The event remained at Riviera in 1995, despite Riviera hosting the PGA Championship that year,^[15] and also remained in 2017, when the course hosted the U.S. Amateur.

In 1992, the Nissan Los Angeles Open at Riviera CC was the site of Tiger Woods' first PGA Tour event as an amateur player, as a 16-year-old high school sophomore.^[16] Neither Woods nor Jack Nicklaus have won the event; Woods lost in a playoff in 1998 (at Valencia)^[17] and was again a runner-up the next year at Riviera,^[18] while Nicklaus' best finish was two strokes back in solo second in 1978.^[19] He had earned his first paycheck as a pro in the event in 1962 at Rancho Park, less than thirty four dollars.^[20]

The 2001 event was only the second time that a six-player playoff was needed in PGA Tour history to determine the tournament winner. Robert Allenby won the playoff ahead of Toshi Izawa, Brandel Chamblee, Bob Tway, Jeff Sluman, and Dennis Paulson.^[21][22]

In 2005, the tournament was shortened by 36 holes due to rain. Adam Scott defeated Chad Campbell on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff on a Monday. Due to the event's length, this win is counted as unofficial for Scott.^[23]

In 2007, Rich Beem made a hole-in-one at the 14th hole on Saturday to win a new red Altima coupe, which he immediately ascended, embraced, and sat atop of in triumph.^[24] The sequence was later made into a Nissan commercial. (video) Beem credited Peter Jacobsen for inspiring his reaction; Jacobsen aced the same hole thirteen years earlier in 1994 then hopped into the nearby 300ZX convertible and pretended to drive it.^{[25][26][27][28]}

In September 2007, it was originally announced that Bearing Point, a consulting firm based in McLean, Virginia, would become the new title sponsor of the tournament, but Northern Trust became the title sponsor beginning in February 2008. The five-year agreement, which extended through the 2012 event, was announced October 15, 2007, by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and William A. Osborn, Chairman and CEO of Northern Trust Corporation.^[29] The tournament became known as the Northern Trust Open, and the new partnership marks the beginning of a process of transformation for this high-profile tournament. As part of the initial move to enhance the tournament, the Northern Trust Open increased its purse to $6.2 million in 2008, an increase of $1 million over 2007. Additionally, the tournament pro-am went from four amateurs to three per group. After the initial 5-year agreement, it was extended 4 years to cover Northern Trust's partnership through the 2016 event.

Phil Mickelson won the 2008 tournament and successfully defended the title in 2009 with a one-stroke victory over Steve Stricker. In 2010, Stricker came back to win the Northern Trust Open and secure his ranking of the number two player in the world. In 2016, Bubba Watson won the tournament for a second time in three years, holding off Adam Scott and Jason Kokrak to win by one shot with a 15-under-par total.^[30]

Following the demise of The National tournament after 2018, which was run by the Tiger Woods Foundation, the Genesis Open was converted to an invitational for 2020, with a larger purse and a smaller field.^[31]

The Genesis Invitational is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Charles Schwab Challenge, and the Memorial Tournament.

Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying). The winner is granted a three-year tour exemption, rather than two.

The field consists of at least 120 players invited using the following criteria:^[32]

1. Genesis winners from past five years
2. The Players Championship and major championship winners in the last five years
3. FedEx Cup winners in the last five years (beginning with the 2019 winner)
4. World Golf Championships winners in the past three years
5. Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament winners in the past three years
6. Tournament winner since last Genesis
7. Prior year U.S. Amateur winner (may have turned professional)
8. Current PGA Tour members who were playing members of last named Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams
9. Top 125 from prior year FedEx Cup points list
10. Top 10 from the current FedEx Cup points list (as of Friday prior)
11. 12 sponsor exemptions – 2 from Web.com Tour finals, 2 members not otherwise exempt, and 8 unrestricted
12. If necessary, field filled to 120 from current year FedEx Cup point list (as of Friday prior)

Source:^[2][3]

More information Year, Winner ...

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Purse ($)	Winner's share ($)	Ref.
Genesis Invitational
2024	Hideki Matsuyama	267	−17	3 strokes	Luke List Will Zalatoris	20,000,000	4,000,000
2023	Jon Rahm	267	−17	2 strokes	Max Homa	20,000,000	3,600,000
2022	Joaquín Niemann	265	−19	2 strokes	Collin Morikawa Cameron Young	12,000,000	2,160,000
2021	Max Homa	272	−12	Playoff	Tony Finau	9,300,000	1,674,000
2020	Adam Scott (2)	273	−11	2 strokes	Scott Brown Kang Sung-hoon Matt Kuchar	9,300,000	1,674,000
Genesis Open
2019	J. B. Holmes	270	−14	1 stroke	Justin Thomas	7,400,000	1,332,000
2018	Bubba Watson (3)	272	−12	2 strokes	Kevin Na Tony Finau	7,200,000	1,296,000
2017	Dustin Johnson	267	−17	5 strokes	Scott Brown Thomas Pieters	7,000,000	1,260,000
Northern Trust Open
2016	Bubba Watson (2)	269	−15	1 stroke	Jason Kokrak Adam Scott	6,800,000	1,224,000
2015	James Hahn	278	−6	Playoff	Paul Casey Dustin Johnson	6,700,000	1,206,000
2014	Bubba Watson	269	−15	2 strokes	Dustin Johnson	6,700,000	1,206,000
2013	John Merrick	273	−11	Playoff	Charlie Beljan	6,600,000	1,188,000
2012	Bill Haas	277	−7	Playoff	Keegan Bradley Phil Mickelson	6,600,000	1,188,000
2011	Aaron Baddeley	272	−12	2 strokes	Vijay Singh	6,500,000	1,170,000
2010	Steve Stricker	268	−16	2 strokes	Luke Donald	6,400,000	1,152,000
2009	Phil Mickelson (2)	269	−15	1 stroke	Steve Stricker	6,300,000	1,134,000
2008	Phil Mickelson	272	−12	2 strokes	Jeff Quinney	6,200,000	1,116,000
Nissan Open
2007	Charles Howell III	268	−16	Playoff	Phil Mickelson	5,200,000	936,000	[24]
2006	Rory Sabbatini	271	−13	1 stroke	Adam Scott	5,100,000	918,000
2005	Adam Scott	133[lower-alpha 1]	−9	Playoff	Chad Campbell	4,800,000	864,000	[23]
2004	Mike Weir (2)	267	−17	1 stroke	Shigeki Maruyama	4,800,000	864,000
2003	Mike Weir	275	−9	Playoff	Charles Howell III	4,500,000	810,000
2002	Len Mattiace	269	−15	1 stroke	Brad Faxon Scott McCarron Rory Sabbatini	3,700,000	666,000
2001	Robert Allenby	276	−8	Playoff	Brandel Chamblee Toshimitsu Izawa Dennis Paulson Jeff Sluman Bob Tway	3,400,000	612,000	[21]
2000	Kirk Triplett	272	−12	1 stroke	Jesper Parnevik	3,100,000	558,000
1999	Ernie Els	270	−14	2 strokes	Davis Love III Ted Tryba Tiger Woods	2,800,000	504,000	[18]
1998	Billy Mayfair	272	−12	Playoff	Tiger Woods	2,100,000	378,000	[17]
1997	Nick Faldo	272	−12	3 strokes	Craig Stadler	1,400,000	252,000
1996	Craig Stadler	278	−6	1 stroke	Mark Brooks Fred Couples Scott Simpson Mark Wiebe	1,200,000	216,000
1995	Corey Pavin (2)	268	−16	3 strokes	Jay Don Blake Kenny Perry	1,200,000	216,000
Nissan Los Angeles Open
1994	Corey Pavin	271	−13	2 strokes	Fred Couples	1,000,000	180,000
1993	Tom Kite	206[lower-alpha 2]	−7	3 strokes	Dave Barr Fred Couples Donnie Hammond Payne Stewart	1,000,000	180,000	[44]
1992	Fred Couples (2)	269	−15	Playoff	Davis Love III	1,000,000	180,000	[45]
1991	Ted Schulz	272	−12	1 stroke	Jeff Sluman	1,000,000	180,000
1990	Fred Couples	266	−18	3 strokes	Gil Morgan	1,000,000	180,000	[46]
1989	Mark Calcavecchia	272	−12	1 stroke	Sandy Lyle	1,000,000	180,000
Los Angeles Open
1988	Chip Beck	267	−17	4 strokes	Mac O'Grady Bill Sander	750,000	135,000
1987	Chen Tze-chung	275	−9	Playoff	Ben Crenshaw	600,000	108,000
1986	Doug Tewell	270	−14	7 strokes	Clarence Rose	450,000	81,000
1985	Lanny Wadkins (2)	264	−20	7 strokes	Hal Sutton	400,000	72,000
1984	David Edwards	279	−5	3 strokes	Jack Renner	400,000	72,000
Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open
1983	Gil Morgan (2)	270	−14	2 strokes	Gibby Gilbert Mark McCumber Lanny Wadkins	300,000	54,000
1982	Tom Watson (2)	271	−13	Playoff	Johnny Miller	300,000	54,000
1981	Johnny Miller	270	−14	2 strokes	Tom Weiskopf	300,000	54,000
1980	Tom Watson	276	−8	1 stroke	Bob Gilder Don January	250,000	45,000
1979	Lanny Wadkins	276	−8	1 stroke	Lon Hinkle	250,000	45,000
1978	Gil Morgan	278	−6	2 strokes	Jack Nicklaus	225,000	40,000	[19]
1977	Tom Purtzer	273	−11	1 stroke	Lanny Wadkins	225,000	40,000
1976	Hale Irwin	272	−12	2 strokes	Tom Watson	185,000	37,000
1975	Pat Fitzsimons	275	−9	4 strokes	Tom Kite	150,000	30,000
1974	Dave Stockton	276	−8	2 strokes	John Mahaffey Sam Snead	150,000	30,000
1973	Rod Funseth	276	−8	3 strokes	Don Bies David Graham Dave Hill Tom Weiskopf	135,000	27,000	[47][48]
1972	George Archer	270	−14	Playoff	Tommy Aaron Dave Hill	125,000	25,000
1971	Bob Lunn	274	−10	Playoff	Billy Casper	110,000	22,000
Los Angeles Open
1970	Billy Casper (2)	276	−8	Playoff	Hale Irwin	100,000	20,000	[49]
1969	Charlie Sifford	276	−8	Playoff	Harold Henning	100,000	20,000	[33][34]
1968	Billy Casper	274	−10	3 strokes	Arnold Palmer	100,000	20,000	[12]
1967	Arnold Palmer (3)	269	−15	5 strokes	Gay Brewer	100,000	20,000	[50][51]
1966	Arnold Palmer (2)	273	−11	3 strokes	Miller Barber Paul Harney	70,000	11,000	[52]
1965	Paul Harney (2)	276	−8	3 strokes	Dan Sikes	70,000	12,000	[53]
1964	Paul Harney	280	−4	1 stroke	Bobby Nichols	50,000	7,500	[54]
1963	Arnold Palmer	274	−10	3 strokes	Al Balding Gary Player	50,000	9,000	[55]
1962	Phil Rodgers	268	−16	9 strokes	Bob Goalby Fred Hawkins	45,000	7,500	[20]
1961	Bob Goalby	275	−9	3 strokes	Eric Brown Art Wall Jr.	45,000	7,500	[56][57]
1960	Dow Finsterwald	280	−4	3 strokes	Bill Collins Jay Hebert Dave Ragan	37,500	5,500	[58][59]
1959	Ken Venturi	278	−6	2 strokes	Art Wall Jr.	35,000	5,300	[60]
1958	Frank Stranahan	275	−9	3 strokes	Dutch Harrison	35,000	7,000	[61][62]
1957	Doug Ford	280	−4	1 stroke	Jay Hebert	37,500	7,000	[63]
1956	Lloyd Mangrum (4)	272	−12	3 strokes	Jerry Barber	32,500	6,000	[64]
1955	Gene Littler	276	−8	2 strokes	Ted Kroll	25,000	5,000	[65]
1954	Fred Wampler	281	−3	1 stroke	Jerry Barber Chick Harbert	20,000	4,000	[66]
1953	Lloyd Mangrum (3)	280	−4	5 strokes	Jack Burke Jr.	20,000	2,750	[67]
1952	Tommy Bolt	289	+5	Playoff	Jack Burke Jr. Dutch Harrison	17,500	4,000	[68]
1951	Lloyd Mangrum (2)	280	−4	1 stroke	Henry Ransom	15,000	2,600	[69]
1950	Sam Snead (2)	280	−4	Playoff	Ben Hogan	15,000	2,600	[70]
1949	Lloyd Mangrum	284	E	3 strokes	Dutch Harrison	15,000	2,600	[71]
1948	Ben Hogan (3)	275	−9	4 strokes	Lloyd Mangrum	10,000	2,000	[72]
1947	Ben Hogan (2)	280	−4	3 strokes	Toney Penna	10,000	2,000	[73]
1946	Byron Nelson	284	E	5 strokes	Ben Hogan	13,333	2,667	[74]
1945	Sam Snead	283	−1	1 stroke	Jug McSpaden Byron Nelson	13,333	2,666	[75]
1944	Jug McSpaden	278	−6	3 strokes	Johnny Bulla	12,500	4,300	[76]
1943: No tournament due to World War II
1942	Ben Hogan	282	−6	Playoff	Jimmy Thomson	10,000	3,500	[77][78]
1941	Johnny Bulla	281	−3	2 strokes	Craig Wood	10,000	3,500	[79]
1940	Lawson Little	282	+2	1 stroke	Clayton Heafner	5,000	1,500	[10]
1939	Jimmy Demaret	274	−10	7 strokes	Jug McSpaden	5,000	1,650	[9]
1938	Jimmy Thomson	273	−11	4 strokes	Johnny Revolta	5,000	2,100	[80][81]
1937	Harry Cooper (2)	274	−10	5 strokes	Ralph Guldahl Horton Smith	8,000	2,500	[82]
1936	Jimmy Hines	280	E	4 strokes	Henry Picard Jimmy Thomson	5,000	1,500	[83]
1935	Vic Ghezzi	285	+5	Playoff	Johnny Revolta	5,000	1,075	[84][85]
1934	Macdonald Smith (4)	280	E	8 strokes	Wille Hunter Bill Mehlhorn	5,000	1,450	[86][87]
1933	Craig Wood	282	−2	4 strokes	Leo Diegel Willie Hunter	5,000	1,525	[88][89]
1932	Macdonald Smith (3)	281	−3	4 strokes	Leo Diegel Olin Dutra Joe Kirkwood Sr. Dick Metz	7,500	2,000	[90][91]
1931	Ed Dudley	285	+1	2 strokes	Al Espinosa Eddie Loos	10,000	3,500	[92][93]
1930	Denny Shute	296	+12	4 strokes	Bobby Cruickshank Horton Smith	10,000	3,500	[94][95]
1929	Macdonald Smith (2)	285	+1	6 strokes	Tommy Armour	10,000	3,500	[96][97]
1928	Macdonald Smith	284	E	3 strokes	Harry Cooper	10,000	3,500	[98][99]
1927	Bobby Cruickshank	282	−6	6 strokes	Ed Dudley Charles Guest	10,000	3,500	[100][101]
1926	Harry Cooper	279	−9	3 strokes	George Von Elm	10,000	3,500	[102][103]

Close

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:^{[104][105][106]}