Top 6 Genesis Invitational Picks for One and Done Pools (2026)
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from PoolGenius, whose subscribers have reported more than $10 million in pool winnings across all sports using their tools.
If you’re looking at Genesis Invitational picks this week and your head’s spinning from all the options, let’s cut through the noise.
The first thing to know is that the Genesis Invitational brings a $20M purse ($4M to the winner), putting it in the top four biggest paydays on tour.
In other words, this isn’t your typical “save the big names” week. When this much money’s on the line, the whole strategy shifts. Let’s run through it below.
The Shortcut to Smarter Genesis Invitational Picks
Here’s the thing most people miss: staring at odds boards and recent results only gets you halfway there.
The PoolGenius Golf One and Done Picks Tool does the heavy lifting by combining all that data – odds, stats, projected ownership, future tournament values – into one clear picture. No more bouncing between ten different tabs trying to piece it together yourself.
But the real game-changer? It shows you whether using Rory this week makes more sense than saving him for Augusta. That’s the kind of insight that separates the winners from everyone else scrambling at season’s end.
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Top 10 Golfers by Genesis Invitational Odds
Here’s how the board looked as of Tuesday afternoon, February 17:
1. Scottie Scheffler +300
2. Rory McIlroy +1100
3. Tommy Fleetwood +1600
4. Xander Schauffele +1800
5. Hideki Matsuyama +2000
6. Patrick Cantlay +2200
7. Cameron Young +2500
8. Collin Morikawa +2500
9. Russell Henley +2500
10. Chris Gotterup +2800
That +300 on Scottie tells you everything you need to know about the decision you’re facing. Yeah, he’s the best player in the field by a mile. But clicking his name means burning your absolute best golfer before we even get to the majors.
Rory’s game translates perfectly to Riviera’s demands. Long course, tough conditions, premium on ball striking…that’s his wheelhouse. Hideki owns this place with two wins here, including a dominant performance in 2024.
Projected Genesis Invitational Pick Popularity
Ownership matters big time this week. With a field this loaded, you need to know if you’re making a sharp play or following the crowd without leverage.
Here are the projected most popular Genesis Invitational picks this week, according to the PoolGenius One and Done Pick Tool.
Most Popular Tier:
- Rory McIlroy
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Hideki Matsuyama
Second Tier:
- Collin Morikawa
- Xander Schauffele
- Scottie Scheffler
- Patrick Cantlay
Third Tier:
- Maverick McNealy
- Russell Henley
- Cameron Young
By the way, you can get our actual popularity numbers (not just tiers) in the PoolGenius Golf One and Done Tool.
But let’s take a look at those tiers above. Rory’s going to be chalky, but his win equity might justify eating the ownership. Scottie’s actually projected lower than you’d expect, as people will probably save him, which creates an interesting dynamic.
The guys in that third tier (and beyond)? That’s where you could find some leverage if you’re playing in bigger pools.
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Best Genesis Invitational Picks for One and Done Pools
This is where people get tripped up. The “best” pick isn’t automatically the guy with the shortest odds.
Should You Go Premium This Week?
Here’s what makes this week different: the Genesis actually justifies firing a premium bullet.
Most weeks, we’re preaching patience – save Rory for Augusta, keep Scottie for The Players. But this tournament sits in that rare tier where the math changes. Win here, and you’ve got the luxury of playing more aggressively the rest of the way.
Rory McIlroy has all the tools to succeed at Riviera. Distance matters on this longer track. His approach play has been consistently elite. The ownership will be heavy, but sometimes chalk is chalk for good reason.
Hideki Matsuyama brings the best course history argument you’ll find. Two wins here, including that wire-to-wire beatdown in 2024. His precision iron play is tailor-made for this setup.
Value Plays Worth Considering
If you’re not ready to deploy your premium assets, here are four guys who make sense:
1. Patrick Cantlay looks to be one of the better contrarian picks among legitimate contenders. He’s got the game to win, the major championship experience to handle the pressure, but won’t draw the ownership of the obvious names.
2. Matthew Fitzpatrick is ranked 9th in the PoolGenius golfer rankings, with projected ownership under 5%. His accuracy off the tee becomes a weapon when others are fighting tough rough. His ball-striking has been elite since he found his form late last season.
3. Russell Henley fits that “future value savings” profile perfectly. Good enough to contend this week, but not someone you’d feel forced to save for the biggest events. His iron play travels well to tough setups like this.
4. Tommy Fleetwood is popular for obvious reasons, but the T-4 at Pebble Beach proves he’s in form. Sometimes riding the hot hand makes sense, especially when the player’s skill set aligns perfectly with the course.
The PoolGenius tool can dial this down to your exact pool size and format in seconds. Makes the entire decision much less stressful.
Get Your Genesis Invitational Pick Grades + Season Plan
Look, if you’re serious about One and Done pools, picking good golfers is only half the battle. The edge comes from picking the right golfer at the right time.
The PoolGenius tool handles all the complex stuff – future value calculations, ownership projections, and how each pick impacts your remaining season. What used to take hours of research now takes minutes.
You get custom pick grades for your specific pool format, plus a season planner that shows exactly what you’re giving up when you use someone now versus later.
It’s the difference between hoping you made a good choice and knowing you made the smart choice.
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