RAPTURE AT RIVIERA

The legendary club in Los Angeles adds a spark to the Genesis Invitational.

- JIM McCABE

The freshness of a new PGA TOUR season is upon us. The vibes are buoyant and high levels of anticipation abound. It’s as if every player looks at the leaderboard and sees they are tied for the lead.

But as a fan if you’re quickly shifting your attention to THE PLAYERS Championship in March or the magic of Augusta National in April followed by quick succession by three major stops, here’s a word of advice: There’s a massive tournament in February that captures the attention of elite players first.

We’re talking the Genesis Invitational, which takes place 13-16 February and to capture the essence of this tournament stop, one needs to feel the love players have for the course, Riviera Country Club, the city of Los Angeles, the special touches like a bond with the esteemed owner of the club, Noboru Watanabe, and the cultural warmth that is inviting to Japanese and Koreans. "It is," said Adam Scott, a two-time winner at Riviera, “always a highlight of my year playing here. I love this track and I love this event.”

He is not alone. Fact is, the hugely popular Aussie is in great company when he gushes about Riviera and the Genesis Invitational, whose tournament host is none other than Tiger Woods. Go no further than the man who put on a ball-striking clinic to win last year’s tournament, Hideki Matsuyama.