January 31, 2025

A Shared Legacy of Greatness

The 2025 Genesis Invitational will be held at Torrey Pines South Course, continuing the tradition of showcasing golf’s greatest players at world-renowned courses. With a rich history that spans public courses, major championships and unforgettable moments from Tiger Woods’ career, the tournament’s connection to golf’s most iconic venues is undeniable. Here’s why Torrey Pines feels like a perfect fit to host this year’s tournament.

MUNICIPAL COURSES IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The tournament has a long history of being played on municipal courses, with Rancho Park Golf Course standing out as one of the most notable venues. Hosting the tournament 17 times between 1956 and 1983, Rancho has seen its share of historic moments. It was here in 1962 that Jack Nicklaus made his professional debut at the L.A. Open. Rancho Park also holds a special place in Arnold Palmer’s legacy, as he claimed all three of his L.A. Open titles on that course. Other public venues have played a role in the tournament’s story as well, with Brookside Golf Course hosting in 1968 and Griffith Park’s Wilson course serving as the stage from 1937 to 1939. This tradition of showcasing public courses continues in 2025 at Torrey Pines, a site steeped in its own rich history. 

HOME OF MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Both Torrey Pines and The Riviera Country Club have cemented their status as world-class venues by hosting major championships. Torrey Pines has been the stage for two unforgettable U.S. Open Championships. Famously in 2008, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in a playoff. More recently, Torrey hosted the 2021 U.S. Open, showcasing the course’s ability to test the best players in the game. Riviera, with its own prestigious history, has hosted three major championships: the 1948 U.S. Open and the PGA Championships in 1983 and 1995. Ben Hogan’s dominant victory in 1948 earned Riviera its iconic nickname, “Hogan’s Alley,” while Hal Sutton and Steve Elkington added to the course’s storied legacy with their PGA Championship triumphs. The shared distinction of hosting majors underscores the significance of this year’s move to Torrey Pines. 

FROM BEGINNINGS TO HISTORIC TRIUMPHS

Tiger Woods’ legendary career is deeply connected to both The Riviera Country Club and Torrey Pines. Riviera not only served as the site of his PGA TOUR debut in 1992 at the age of 16 but also remains a cornerstone of his legacy as the host course for his tournament, The Genesis Invitational.  

While Riviera represents the beginning of his career and his role as a tournament host, Torrey Pines has become a showcase of his dominance. Of his 82 PGA TOUR victories, eight came at Torrey Pines, including his unforgettable triumph at the 2008 U.S. Open. That year, Tiger sank an iconic 12-foot birdie putt to force a playoff against Rocco Mediate. His success at both Riviera and Torrey Pines highlights his profound impact on these two storied courses and their place in his unparalleled legacy.