The weather gods stop for no one, and that includes the PGA Tour pros set to tee off at the 2026 Genesis Invitational on Thursday.
Rain and wind have been pummeling the California coast this week, with Pacific storms threatening the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and now this week’s tournament. The inclement weather has already impacted practice rounds down at Riviera Country Club and cancelled Monday’s Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase.
Will Scottie Scheffler and company get a reprieve from the nasty weather, or will it literally rain on their parade?
Genesis Invitational Round 1 Forecast
Golfers hoping for a dry start to the tournament are out of luck, as there is rain and wind in the forecast for Thursday’s Round 1 of the Genesis Invitational.
The Weather Channel shows there is a 99% chance of rain for Thursday morning in Pacific Palisades. While the incoming storm isn’t expected to be as strong as storms earlier in the week, there is still potential for heavy rainfall on Thursday.
Then, there’s the wind. The PGA Tour’s media guide for the tournament shows that sustained winds of 10-16 miles per hour could gust up to 22 mph. How much do those gusts impact a golfer’s game?
“Generally, any wind conditions over 20 mph will be considered ‘windy’ in golf,” Glenmuir.com says. “While 20 mph may seem like a lot, with a bit of skill and know-how (and lots of practice), it’s perfectly possible to make a success of your game on the golf course.”
Weather Impact on Future Rounds
Both the wind and the rain are expected to diminish by Round 2 on Friday. However, the storms earlier in the week have already caused flooding at Riviera.
“This raises concerns over course conditions, which could lead to delays or interruptions if rain continues during the tournament,” Daily Club Golf summarized. “If rain continues when play begins, the tournament may face stoppages and delays between rounds. Officials could also suspend play or postpone rounds based on course conditions and safety considerations.”
It wouldn’t be the first time the Genesis Invitational has been interrupted by extra bad weather. As Golf Monthly reminds us, rain suspended play in 2019 after 30 players had already teed off.
“There was a seven-hour delay in total after Riviera was waterlogged by heavy rain, with players such as Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth afforded second chances following tough starts to their first attempt at round one,” staff writer Jonny Leighfield said. “The same situation is not expected in 2026, but round one is likely to see preferred lies in place once more – just as was the case throughout the week at Pebble Beach as Collin Morikawa claimed victory last week.”
Favorites to Win the Genesis Invitational
Of course, the pros are gearing up to compete rain or shine. (They did play through rainy conditions in Round 1 at Torrey Pines last year.) And this means oddsmakers have set their sights on who they think will finish atop the leaderboard.
Scheffler is the betting favorite at DraftKings to win the 2026 Genesis Invitational at +305 odds. Rory McIlroy follows at +1275 odds, and Southern California native Xander Schauffele rounds out the top three at +1950 odds. Hideki Matsuyama, who won the Genesis Invitational in 2024, is listed at +2150.
Winds Expected to Rip Through Genesis Invitational First Round