Tiger lacks bite as Scheffler favoured at Genesis Invitational

This week’s Genesis Invitational sees Tiger Woods, who is a 100/1 outsider with bookies BoyleSports, back in competitive action for the first time this year.

Woods will be sporting a new look after launching his ‘Sun Day Red’ clothing line this week following his split with Nike, but punters are questioning whether he will get the chance to don his traditional red shirt for the final day as he makes his first appearance since the PNC Championship in December.

While the top 50 plus ties and anyone within ten shots of the lead will make the halfway cut, Woods is rated a 20/1 shot to lead after any round, while a top ten finish can be backed at 8/1.

Scottie Scheffler will tee-up as favourite once again at odds of 6/1, with the world number one looking to bounce-back from a frustrating putting performance at the Phoenix Open, which denied him a first win of 2024 as he finished three-shots behind winner Nick Taylor.

Despite Scheffler’s late difficulties on the green, his tee-to-green statistics at TPC Scottsdale continued to show why he tops the rankings and he is expected to contend again on a course that requires accuracy off the tee and with iron-play.

Rory McIlroy’s year got off to a flying start, recording a first and second place finish in the opening two events of the year in the UAE, and despite a disappointing T66th finish at Pebble Beach, he goes into the Genesis in great form as the 9/1 second favourite, with the chance of Rory ending his major draught this year rated a 9/4 shot.

Cameron Young is another to capture the attention of savvy bettors, with a third place in Dubai and eighth place finish at last week’s Phoenix Open boding well for the New York native to go one better than his runner-up finish in the event in 2022.

Long shot backers may fancy a punt on Séamus Power who finished 14th here last year and can be backed at 200/1.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “There’s a new look and a new caddie for Tiger Woods as he returns to the golf course this week, but it’s the same likely challenge from world number one Scottie Scheffler that punters are latching onto instead.”