On The Bag & Behind The Win
Behind every legendary win at The Genesis Invitational is the player who hoisted the trophy over his head and the caddie who helped guide the path to victory. Over the past century, the greens of courses around Los Angeles have been a testament to the power between the partnership and a witness to every read, club selection and strategy that further defined the trajectory of the tournament at hand. The bond between player and caddie has rewritten records and etched unforgettable moments into tournament history.
A duo that spent 22 years together began with one of their first wins together at Riviera in 1990 during the LA Open. Fred Couples and Joe LaCava delivered an epic champion Sunday setting a record-tying 9-under-par 62 to vault into the lead, ultimately capturing the title. Their win in 1990 was only the beginning, winning again in 1992 at Riviera, a total of 12 victories they would share, including a green jacket at the 1992 Masters. LaCava’s career would later bring him back to Riviera in a different light, this time on the bag for tournament host Tiger Woods.
Beyond the wins and losses, the player-caddie duo of Nick Faldo and Franny Sunesson would be a pivotal defining moment in the history of golf. A trailblazer, Sunesson became the first female caddie to win a men’s major and helped guide Faldo to four majors during their time together. Her legacy resonates well beyond any single tournament, a symbol of what’s possible for the next generation. In 1997, Nick Faldo captured the title at Riviera with Fanny Sunesson by his side.
In 2021, one of the most personal victories unfolded when Max Homa championed Riviera and held the trophy alongside Joe Greiner, his childhood best friend. Both Southern California kids who grew up to achieve their dreams, the win at Riviera was not just another title. It was a hometown triumph, years in the making.
Few partnerships have endured, or succeeded, like Phil Mickelson and Jim “Bones” MacKay. Their 25-year run saw 46 victories, including every one of Mickelson’s first five major titles. At Riviera, the duo went back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, with Bones reading the critical putt that secured the second of those wins on the 18th green.
No caddie has found more success at Riviera than Ted Scott, who helped guide Bubba Watson to victories in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Their 15-year partnership was built on creativity and feeling. Furthermore, Scott’s name is now cemented in tournament history as the winningest caddie in modern history. As the chapter with Watson ended, a new era for Scott unfolded with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Officially on the bag for Scheffler as of 2021, the pair have been unstoppable claiming 17 PGA TOUR victories in the past four seasons.
After decades of competition in Los Angeles, it’s clear that the path to the trophy is not walked alone. These enduring partnerships, forged through trust, grit and a shared pursuit of excellence, have shaped unforgettable moments and lasting memories.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
The Genesis Invitational continues a longstanding tradition of professional golf in Los Angeles. Debuting in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open at Los Angeles Country Club, the tournament was staged at various courses around the Los Angeles area before finding its permanent home at The Riviera Country Club. For a century the tournament has played host to iconic moments, legendary champions and defining chapters in the game of golf. In this special series, we look back on a century of tournament history and Celebrating 100 years of memorable golf stories.