The roar returned
When looking back at the 2023 Genesis Invitational, memorable moments have been written in the history books for years to come. Sunday’s final round, highlighted by a back-nine duel between Jon Rahm and 2021 champion Max Homa, saw incredible shots, epic putts and a fist pump that shook the course. Rahm’s victory was his third of the PGA TOUR season and vaulted him to No. 1 in the world ranking.
However, one of the lasting memories from the 2023 tournament was the return of Tournament Host Tiger Woods to PGA TOUR competition for the first time in more than six months.
Leading into the 2023 Genesis Invitational, the anticipation was palpable. With a tournament-record $20 million purse, 19 of the top-20 players in the world were set to tee it up at Riviera. Ahead of the commitment deadline, the buzz grew even louder when Woods announced his intention to play.
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“I’m excited about being able to compete and play here at Riviera where basically it all started,” Woods said in his pre-tournament press conference. Paired with Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, Woods played the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday in front of the adoring LA fans. Anticipation for the weekend grew even greater as Woods positioned himself inside the cutline after 36 holes.
Over the weekend, the crowds grew and the action inside the ropes heated up. Woods posted his best round of the tournament on moving day, carding a 67 that included three birdies and an eagle. Following the final putt dropping on Sunday, Woods’ return to Riviera was only one of the highlights of the week.
“This is a big event, this is a big deal of where our TOUR’s going. To have all the top players here playing like this, it means a lot to me as a player but also as a host to have all these players show up like this and play,” Woods said following the completion of his fourth round. “The tournament is a huge success for our foundation and for everyone here involved. The amount of people that came out and supported this event was off the charts. I think it’s a good win all around.”