Riviera’s Return: Why This Week in L.A. Matters More Than You Think

After last year’s detour to Torrey Pines due to the devastating Southern California fires, the PGA Tour is finally bringing the Genesis Invitational back home to Riviera Country Club. On the surface, it’s just another signature event—albeit one with Tiger Woods’ name attached to it. But having spent 35 years covering this tour, I can tell you there’s something deeper happening here that reveals where professional golf stands in early 2026.

Let me explain what I’m seeing.

The Scheffler Question Keeps Getting Louder

Scottie Scheffler hasn’t won at Riviera. That fact alone wouldn’t matter much in a normal year, but we’re not living in normal times. Here’s a guy who has systematically dismantled the competition across virtually every major venue on the tour, yet somehow Tiger’s old course has eluded him.

What strikes me most is the narrative around his recent form: "furious comebacks the last two weeks to finish in the top 3 after slow starts." In my three decades covering the tour, I’ve learned that how a player finishes matters less than where his mind is. Scheffler’s ability to recover from sluggish begins suggests confidence, not concern. It’s the mark of someone who knows he has the game to win anywhere, anytime. But Riviera? This week feels different. The pressure’s mounting in a way it hasn’t at other events.

The fact that the tour scheduled this signature event so early in the year—right after Pebble Beach—tells you something about how seriously both the PGA Tour and sponsors view getting back to normalcy in Los Angeles. They wanted this course, this event, this prestige on the calendar as soon as possible.

When Defending Champions Aren’t the Real Story

"There are four past champions of this event in the field this week — Ludvig Åberg (the reigning champion), Hideki Matsuyama, Max Homa and Adam Scott"

That’s a solid group of proven winners. Åberg, in particular, comes in as the defending champion with some real momentum. But here’s what I find interesting: none of them are the favorites. In my experience caddying for Tom Lehman back in the ’90s, we learned that golf doesn’t always reward consistency the way other sports do. A defending champion carries both confidence and a target on his back. Åberg’s got both in spades this week.

Yet the conversation keeps circling back to the guys chasing their first Riviera victory: Scheffler, McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and the others. That’s actually healthy for the tour. It means the event remains wide open, that history doesn’t guarantee anything, and that any given Sunday really means something.

The Morikawa Resurrection Nobody’s Talking About Enough

Collin Morikawa’s win at Pebble Beach deserves way more ink than it’s gotten. The man won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his first PGA Tour victory since 2023. Let me put that in perspective: Morikawa was once the No. 2 player in the world. He’s the kind of talent that doesn’t simply disappear, but in golf, recency bias is real. Players can feel forgotten in a hurry.

His Pebble Beach victory isn’t just about one tournament. It’s a statement. It’s him putting his name back in the conversation for elite status. Coming into Riviera this week on the heels of that win—that’s dangerous. That’s the form that makes guys peak at exactly the right moments. I wouldn’t be shocked if we’re talking about a Morikawa resurgence come Masters time.

Why This Week Matters Beyond The Trophy

The Genesis Invitational’s return to Riviera represents something the PGA Tour needed badly: stability and tradition reasserting itself after genuine chaos. Los Angeles took a beating last year. The tour and its sponsors could’ve moved this event elsewhere permanently. Instead, they waited, they planned, and they’re bringing it back to the historic venue it belongs at.

That decision—which might seem simple on the surface—actually speaks volumes about the tour’s commitment to place and legacy. Not everything needs to be a gimmick. Not every event needs radical reimagining. Sometimes getting back to what works, especially at a course like Riviera with its stunning coastal views and firm, fast conditions that reward precision, is exactly what the tour needs.

The Broadcast Schedule Tells Its Own Story

The fact that we get full Saturday and Sunday coverage on CBS speaks to the tour’s confidence in this event’s draw. Premium time slots. Premium platform. That’s not given lightly in today’s media landscape.

Final Thoughts

Riviera’s back where it belongs. The field is loaded with talent hungry to win at a course that demands precision golf. Scheffler’s seeking his first victory here. Morikawa’s peaking. The defending champion is in the mix. And somewhere out there, a player we haven’t thought about is going to get hot and remind us all why we love this game.

That’s what signature events should do. And that’s what this week in L.A. is shaping up to deliver.