Celebrating 100 years

The Tournament Hosts

This commemorative painting honors the distinguished individuals who have served as host of The Genesis Invitational, each leaving a lasting mark on the tournament’s history.

Today, Tiger Woods carries that responsibility. Since 2020, Woods and TGR Live have hosted and operated the tournament, guiding its continued growth while honoring its deep roots in Los Angeles. It was this very event that granted Woods his first PGA TOUR start as an amateur in 1992 — a full-circle connection between host and history.

Before Woods, Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West served as host, strengthening the tournament’s ties to the city and championing its community impact. In 1973, entertainer Glen Campbell ushered in a new era by bringing the tournament to The Riviera Country Club, elevating its national profile. The tradition began with Scotty Chisholm, founder of the Los Angeles Open in 1926 and the tournament’s first host.

Together, these leaders represent more than stewardship. They reflect the vision, influence and enduring spirit that have shaped the tournament for generations.

Commissioned 2026

A Century of Champions 

This one-of-a-kind painting honors the first 99 winners of The Genesis Invitational, each name thoughtfully inscribed around the tournament’s iconic trophy. This serves as a visual tribute to the legends, breakthrough performances, and defining moments that have shaped this historic event. 

From past major champions to rising stars who left their mark on tournament history, every name tells a story of excellence earned on one of golf’s most revered stages. At the 100th playing, history will once again be written. When this year’s champion is crowned, they will add their signature to the canvas, becoming the 100th name etched into a century of greatness and forever linked to the tournament’s remarkable legacy. 

Commissioned 2026

honoring a trailblazer

Awarded annually since 2009, the Sifford Exemption has been given to a deserving golfer from a minority background to play in The Genesis Invitational. The exemption continues Sifford’s legacy by recognizing players whose journeys reflect the power of opportunity, perseverance and progress in the game of golf. 

This commemorative painting captures that enduring impact, portraying past exemption recipients and honorees including U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, three-time PGA TOUR winner Cameron Champ, PGA TOUR Champions winner Tim O’Neal, and Aaron Beverly, who received the exemption during the celebration of Sifford’s centennial birthday in 2022. 

Their presence in this artwork reflects more than participation in a single tournament. It represents achievement at the highest levels of professional golf and the continued advancement of opportunity within the game. As future players receive the exemption, that legacy will continue to grow, adding new chapters to a story defined by progress and possibility. 

Commissioned 2026

global champions

From Scotland to South Africa, Sweden to Canada, The Genesis Invitational has welcomed champions from around the globe. Across 99 editions of the tournament, 20 champions have come from outside the United States, a testament to the global stature of The Genesis Invitational. From early Scottish winners to today’s international stars, these champions have elevated the tournament’s legacy to one of global importance.

Among the international champions immortalized in tournament history is Adam Scott (pictured center), who first triumphed in 2005 with a playoff victory in his debut, then returned 15 years later to claim the trophy again in 2020. The reigning champion from Sweden, Ludvig Åberg (pictured bottom right), surged to his second PGA TOUR victory in 2025 with a dramatic back-nine push and a decisive seven-foot putt on the 72nd hole. Just a year earlier, Hideki Matsuyama (pictured top right) delivered one of the greatest final rounds in Riviera history, firing a flawless 9-under 62 to storm past the field in 2024.

Rounding out the legacy of global champions are Mike Weir (pictured top left), whose back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004 sparked a run of international dominance, and Ernie Els (pictured bottom left), who captured the title in 1999 to further establish Riviera’s place on golf’s international stage.

Commissioned 2025 

TRUSTED HAND

Behind every champion at The Genesis Invitational stands the caddie as part strategist, part steady hand and always a partner in the pursuit of victory. From trusted friendships to trailblazing firsts, caddies have left their own mark on the tournament’s legacy.

Joe LaCava (pictured center) helped guide Fred Couples to multiple Riviera wins, while Jim “Bones” MacKay (pictured top right) was by Phil Mickelson’s side for back-to-back victories in 2008 and 2009. Franny Sunesson (pictured bottom left) made history as the first female caddie to win a men’s major and celebrated a Riviera triumph with Nick Faldo in 1997. Joe Greiner (pictured top left) shared a hometown dream come true with Max Homa in 2021, and Ted Scott (pictured bottom right) became the winningest caddie in most recent tournament history, guiding Bubba Watson to three titles at Riviera.

Their stories remind us that while only one name is etched on the trophy, every victory is a shared achievement.

Commissioned 2025 

cOLLEGIATE sHOWCASE

Since its debut in 2015, the Collegiate Showcase has become a cornerstone of The Genesis Invitational’s tradition of opportunity. Each year, collegiate standouts compete at Riviera with one goal in mind: to earn a start on the PGA TOUR. What began as a single exemption has grown into one of the most anticipated stages for rising stars to prove they belong among the game’s elite.

Among those who first stepped into the spotlight through the Collegiate Showcase are Sahith Theegala (pictured left) Will Zalatoris (pictured top righ) and Scottie Scheffler (pictured bottom right). Zalatoris etched his name in history as the inaugural champion, charting a path that would lead to PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and his first TOUR victory in 2022. Theegala, a SoCal native, captured the title in 2017 and has since become a fan favorite, highlighted by his 2023 PGA TOUR win and a Presidents Cup debut. Scheffler, the 2018 champion, has ascended to the top of the sport with multiple major championships, an Olympic gold medal and the distinction of the world’s best player.

The Collegiate Showcase stands as a testament to the talent and ambition that define golf’s next generation.

Commissioned 2025 

DREAMS ACHIEVED

Beyond a legacy, the LA event has transpired into a tournament that embodies the dreams of young golfers. Fueled by a passion to one day compete on the greens, through each swing SoCal-native golfers Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler would achieve their lifelong goal.

From watching outside the ropes as a young fan, to making his professional PGA TOUR debut 1992, Tiger Woods (pictured right) now reigns the title of tournament host, intertwining two legacies unmatched.

Often referred to as “Tiger’s Event,” the iconic host adds to the honor of getting to play the field of top golfers on the course where legends are made. Growing up attending the events, Morikawa (pictured center-left), Fowler (pictured left) and Homa are now part of the elite field of top golfers who play the tournament. Homa (pictured center-right) would live out his ultimate childhood dream and become the champion of the 2021 Genesis Invitational.

Commissioned 2024 

AROUND LA

Holding the title of the home to LA’s most iconic tournament, The Riviera Country Club has hosted the event for the past six decades. However, the rich history of professional golf in the city of LA spans numerous courses that have hosted the tournament over the years.

Los Angeles Country Club set the tone for the legacy that would lie ahead, hosting the inaugural LA Open in 1926. The tournament featured the largest professional purse at the time, with $10,000 on the line. LACC (pictured bottom left) would host the event four more times, most recently in 1944.

The list of courses that have hosted the tournament stretches throughout LA. With one of the most recognizable backdrops of the city, the Wilshire Country Club (pictured top left) hosted the event four times: 1928, 1931, 933 and 1944. The Griffith Observatory (pictured bottom right) pays homage to Griffith Park (Wilson Course) who hosted the tournament from 1937-1939. Only Riviera has hosted the tournament more than Rancho Park Golf Course (17 times), most recently in 1983.

Commissioned 2024

RANCHO PARK YEARS

Rancho Park Golf Course was the stage during the LA Open for many legacy defining moments for golf icons.

On the list of victories to his name, Arnold Palmer (pictured right) won all three of his LA Opens at Rancho, becoming the third player in tournament history to win back-to-back tournaments.

Two years later in 1969, history would be made once again on Pico Boulevard. A significant moment in golf history, Charlie Sifford (pictured left) marked his second victory on the PGA TOUR with his win in the LA Open . Today, his legacy is continued each year through the annual Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption.

Commissioned 2024

TOURNAMENT FIRSTS

Beginning with a historic $10,000 purse, the tournament was started to bring publicity to the region. Using an automobile (pictured center left), event organizers promoted the new event in the community. In the 1930s and ‘40s, the tournament offered Babe Didrikson Zaharias an (pictured top left) exemption into the event and later saw Zaharias become the first woman to qualify for a PGA event.

Ted Rhodes (pictured bottom right) is often credited with becoming the first African American professional golfer. Rhodes, along with friend Bill Spiller, competed at Riviera several times, becoming more frequent than symbolic. In 1948, Rhodes and Spiller competed in the LA Open and U.S. Open at Riviera which helped spark the legal action that changed the PGA’s Caucasians-only clause.

In 1962, the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, won his first professional paycheck, earning $33.33 in the LA Open.

Among the most significant ‘firsts’ to happen in professional golf in Los Angeles, the PGA TOUR debut of Tiger Woods (pictured center) in 1992 is among the most significant. While Woods’ debut start is highly documented, his second career start also took place at Riviera in the 1993 LA Open.

Commissioned 2023

ICONIC CHAMPIONS

The list of champions in Los Angeles is iconic. Highlighted by the man who gave a nickname to Riviera: Ben Hogan (pictured center). With three LA Open victories to his name in 1942, ‘47 & ‘48, Hogan also won the 1948 U.S. Open at Riviera. With that, the club fondly became known as Hogan’s Alley. Today, you can see a statue of the iconic champion above 18 green.

Hogan’s three tournament victories are one short of the all-time record held by Macdonald Smith and Llyod Mangrum. Smith dominated the first decade of the event, winning four times in nine years. Mangrum (pictured bottom left) outdid Smith, winning four times in eight years in the 40s and 50s. During Mangrum’s decade of dominance, Byron Nelson (pictured top right) and Sam Snead (pictured bottom right) managed to find the top of the leaderboard as well. The two battled it out in the ‘40s with Snead besting Nelson in 1945 and Nelson returning the favor the following year.

Of all the iconic champions, the most significant is Charlie Sifford (pictured top left). The 1969 victory was Sifford’s second on the PGA TOUR. Sifford’s legacy lives on today with the annual Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption.

Commissioned 2023

THE RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB

Having first hosted the LA Open in 1929, The Riviera Country Club has hosted the event more than any other course. From the first playing of the tournament at Riviera to its 60th playing in 2023, the course has withstood the test of time. An iconic first tee shot (pictured center) to the natural amphitheater on the 18th green (pictured top), Riviera is top of the list of favorite courses for professionals and amateurs alike. With roots tracing back to Hollywood, you never know who you might see at the tournament. Never was that truer when Humphrey Bogart was spotted under the eucalyptus tree on 12 green (pictured bottom left).

Artist Jonas Never poses next to the painting of Riviera.

Commissioned 2023