Riviera is hosting this tournament for the 50th time. The course was difficult last year with the scoring average just over par. Rarely do players who have never played in this tournament come away with the win as 21 of the last 23 winners had played the tournament in the past. This event will be the first one on the PGA Tour this season for world #1 Luke Donald, #7 Jason Day, #8 Adam Scott and #17 Sergio Garcia.
Phil Mickelson 10-1
It is easy to make a case for Mickelson as he won at Riviera in 2008 and in 2009. He was brilliant last week at Pebble Beach but it is very tough on the PGA Tour to win in back-to-back weeks. He does have a little bit of value at 10-1.
Luke Donald 16-1
The world’s top ranked player makes his first start this season in the U.S. on a course in which he has played well. He did miss the cut last year but he had three straight finishes in the top six in 2008, 2009 and in 2010. There is a ton of value in Donald at these betting odds.
Dustin Johnson 20-1
He proved last week he is healthy as he finished in a tie for fifth. He didn’t make the cut in this event last year but he did tie for third two years ago.
Jason Day 25-1
He hasn’t done anything in the past at Riviera but he is so good that you never can count him out. He tied for second in Qatar two weeks ago.
Sergio Garcia 25-1
He hasn’t played this tournament since 2008 but he comes into this event playing pretty well as he tied for fifth a couple of weeks ago in Qatar.
Adam Scott 28-1
It is easy to like Scott here as he has seven top 10 finishes in his last 11 starts. He won this event in 2005 and was second in 2006.
Longshots
Aaron Baddeley 30-1 and Kevin Na 33-1
Badddeley is the defending champion and he comes in playing well as he finished fourth at Pebble Beach last week. His odds really should be more like 20-1. Our other longshot pick this week is Kevin Na who is 33-1 in Northern Trust Open betting. He finished third last year and he played well last week at Pebble.
