NO Tiger and no Tinseltown setting, but this week’s Genesis Invitational still oozes with star power as it moves from Los Angeles to San Diego.

The switch from Riviera in LA to Torrey Pines further down the coast is due to the impact of the wildfires that have ravaged Northern California.

Tournament host Woods has abandoned his planned return to PGA Tour action following the death of his mother, Kutilda, but he plans to make an appearance behind the scenes before the tournament is over.

Torrey Pines played host to the Farmers Insurance Open just three weeks ago. That should throw up a few useful clues, although only 29 of the 72 starters in this elite Signature event also turned out last month.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler heads a field that also includes Rory McIlroy – an impressive winner at Pebble Beach on his last start – so the line-up is a lot stronger this time.

With 5-1 favourite Scheffler yet to show his best form after undergoing surgery on a cut hand on Christmas Day, there is a case to be made for McIlroy heading the market here. At 8-1, he certainly looks the more attractive proposition of the big two.

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Genesis Invitational Golf tips

McIlroy has not played here since Torrey hosted the US Open in 2021, when he finished tied seventh. Two top fives in three previous appearances provide further evidence he has the game for this course. 

But with wind and rain forecast for the first two days, and four inch rough in places, he will have to repeat the laser-like accuracy he showed at Pebble.

No-one is better than Collin Morikawa at hitting fairways and green at the moment. He finished in a share of fourth here at the 2021 US Open, and will love the tough set-up. So he has to come into the reckoning at 14-1.

Jason Day has won the Farmers twice, but was a disappointing 32nd here last month. But he played a lot better to finish just outside the top ten at Pebble, and at 45-1 he looks a decent each way shout.

Harris English was in typical gritty mode as he survived a final round 73 to win here last month despite a closing 73. But conditions will ease over the weekend this time, and it is easy to see him being swallowed up.

Sungjae Im, who finished fourth behind English, should go well again. His 33-1 quote looks fair, and another 33-1 shot, Taylor Pendrith could easily improve on his seventh place finish.

Among the outsiders, Farmers runner-up Andrew Novak – who looked the likely winner until English ground out 12 straight pars in tough conditions – is attractively priced at 125-1.

There is no DP World Tour event this week, but the LIV bandwagon moves from Saudi Arabia to Australia.

The LIV Adelaide market is headed by 13-2 shot Jon Rahm, with Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau, and Joaquin  Niemann all at single figure odds as well.

That shows how competitive this is, and I would rather back a player who could pop up at longer odds.

The one who makes most appeal is South African star Dean Burmester, at 25-1. He has finished seventh and third in his previous Adelaide appearances, and was tied fourth in Saudi last week.

Louis Oosthuuizen, runner-up here last year, is another 25-1 shot worth considering, while it is always worth having an Aussie on your side on their home soil. Marc Leishman fits the bill at 22-1.

And after closing with a 65 in  Saudi – the joint lowest score of the day – 50-1 chance Cameron Tringale looks best of the outsiders. He was third here a couple of years ago, and a repeat performance would bring a healthy each way return.

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