Win Big at the Genesis Invitational 2023

Nick Cannon is excited for Valentine's Day and shared a Christian Mingle Spoof ad on Friday (Feb). He hopes to find love as well! McClure's PGA expert is also ready to help you win big at the Genesis Invitational 2023 with his top picks, sleepers, head-to-head matchups and best bets - get them all at SportsLine.

1. Justin Thomas to Finish in the Top-20

Justin Thomas has had an extraordinary season, claiming multiple tournament victories and earning himself his first major title and World #1 ranking. With an array of awards to his name - including both major championship wins and FedEx Cup championship victories - Thomas is truly one of the greatest players in golf history.

Thomas has long been an enthusiastic supporter of youth golf and has actively collaborated with multiple charities to raise money for various causes. His foundation, The Justin Thomas Foundation, has collaborated with organizations like The First Tee, Boys & Girls Club of Kentuckiana and USA Cares.

He has been an avid sports fan since childhood, regularly posting on his social media about his favorite teams and athletes - especially Alabama Crimson Tide football! Additionally, he enjoys collecting shoes and sports memorabilia, especially Air Jordans and Yeezys.

At 29 years, the 29-year-old boasts 15 victories and two major titles on his PGA Tour resume, making him one of the top players in the world at his age. His success speaks volumes about how hard he works - it truly shows.

His success on the course can be attributed to his increased dedication to fitness, training and weightlifting. This has enabled him to enhance his club speed and strength which has translated into a significant improvement in his game.

Thomas is one of the most beloved players on the PGA Tour and has won multiple titles throughout his career, making him an excellent pick to finish in the top-20 at The U.S. Open in 2023.

After an incredible 2017, Thomas is looking to build on his success in 2018. He has been dedicating himself to fitness and training over the past several years, which has seen a marked improvement in his game. Furthermore, Thomas plans on continuing working with The Justin Thomas Foundation which promotes junior golf and humanitarian causes.

2. Jon Rahm to Finish in the Top-10

Jon Rahm is the undisputed favorite to win The American Express this week after dominating the Sentry Tournament of Champions twice in a row. The world No. 4 has been on fire lately, finishing outside of the top 10 only once in his last nine starts and picking up three victories along the way.

With a victory at The American Express this week, Jon Rahm will move closer to reclaiming the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings. His next two PGA Tour stops are Torrey Pines, where he has twice won and holds the course record of 63.

In recent years, the Spaniard has been the dominant player on Torrey Pines' South Course, winning both Farmers Insurance Open in 2017 and U.S. Open 2021, as well as finishing in the top-10 five times.

He's a perennial WM Phoenix Open contender and on an unstoppable run right now. Currently ranking T4 on the PGA Tour's par-5 scoring chart, he has two wins this season.

There's a reason he's the betting favorite at this week's event: He's on an exceptional level right now. The 28-year-old Spaniard hasn't missed a top-10 finish in six of his nine PGA Tour starts this season and ranks among the top-10 for strokes gained from tee-to-green over his last 36 rounds.

Jon Rahm is an impressively large man with a deft touch who turned professional in 2016 after an impressive amateur career that saw him remain the number one amateur for 60 weeks in two stints. He made his PGA Tour debut that April and has since gone on to win multiple titles both on the PGA Tour and European Tour.

He won his first Major at the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines and has finished in the top-10 eight times in 12 months. Currently ranked fourth worldwide, he's set for his third straight start at Torrey Pines this week as a prohibitive betting favorite. There's always an outside chance that he could make the cut and finish in the top-10, potentially propelling him up the world rankings once more.

3. J.T. Poston to Finish in the Top-20

Poston is a seasoned veteran of the game with two wins on tour and an impressive record at both RBC Heritage and John Deere Classic. Additionally, he had top-10 finishes at Amex and PGA Championship this season.

He's been playing well lately, improving by more than 0.6 strokes per round and should be in for a strong weekend. With that in mind, he would make an excellent pick to finish inside the top-20 at this week's American Express Championship.

In his last four starts on the PGA Tour, Poston has posted three Top 26 finishes. While his putting has not been great lately, I still believe in his ability to get up and down, which is why I'm backing him to finish in the Top 20 this week.

This week's tournament is a Dye/DL3 track, so I expect it to play to his strengths. Although the course hasn't been as challenging as some of his other courses this year, it will certainly present him with some challenges if his putting becomes too rapid.

I believe he can put together an impressive round of golf this week and it won't be a shock if he breaks par. His course history and recent form are both impressive, plus his putting is up to the task this week; so, with some help from Mother Nature, he should have no trouble going the distance this week.

His stats look promising; he is currently ranked 13th on the tour in GIR and 16th in ball striking. Additionally, he's hitting the ball well this week at an average distance of 135 yards off the tee, which should help him make up ground this week.

He's made several birdies in his last three starts, suggesting he can put together an impressive round of golf this week. With such a weak field at The American Express, I believe he's worth betting on this week.

He's played this event four times and made all four cuts, including an 11th in his debut. With no finish lower than 37th place ever since, I believe he can go a long way this week.

4. Max Homa to Finish in the Top-10

Max Homa recently achieved victory at his hometown's Genesis Invitational, demonstrating that he can compete on a big stage. In each of his last three starts, he has finished inside the top 10, including one at Augusta National.

He is an aggressive player with the ability to get up and down from various locations on the course. This skill set has earned him multiple victories, potentially propelling him to the top of the leaderboard at Farmers Insurance Open.

Homa has already proven that he can perform and win at his highest level when under pressure. With two wins already under his belt in California, the Farmers could add another this week.

If he can win at Farmers Insurance this week, he would become only the second California native to do so since Tiger Woods in 2008. Additionally, it would mark his first three events win in one calendar year within his home state of California.

Homa boasts an impressive putter and has shown promise on some of the toughest courses on tour this season. In his last two tournaments, he's gained 7.8 strokes combined in putting, making him a good contender to make the top-20.

He is one of the better players in his position and has maintained consistency throughout his career. In six of his eight PGA Tour starts, he has finished inside the top 10; hopefully that continues at Torrey Pines as well.

Many golf fans understand the significance of putting in any tournament. It can make or break a player's chances for victory.

With that in mind, it's essential to be mindful that some players on tour don't possess a particularly good short game. Examples include Max Homa, Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau.

When considering the greatest players in golf, two essential skills come to mind: tee-to-green and putting. These are essential abilities for success on any course; there are other factors which can make or break a round, but these two remain at the top of everyone's list.