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A yearly treat

There isn’t much pro golf to watch this weekend, but what we do have is one of the PGA Tour’s best events, the Genesis Invitational. While the tournament lost some of its character when it ditched the Los Angeles Open branding and format, a visit to Riviera Country Club is always welcome.

Even with the top 11 players in the Official World Golf Ranking in attendance, the golf course is still the star. Some of our favorite holes are Nos. 5, 7, 10, and 15, all memorable par 4s of varying distances. Riviera’s hole-to-hole variety, great greens, and firm conditioning allow it to remain a relevant test for today’s PGA Tour players. To succeed here, you need a diverse arsenal of approach shots, not to mention a stellar short game.

Year after year, Riviera shows that you don’t need thick rough and ultra-narrow fairways to create a championship-worthy challenge. Click here for a full course tour.

Many people are saying

Bryson DeChambeau is the only top-12 player not at Riviera this weekend. On Monday, in a flurry of social media posts, DeChambeau stated that hip and hand injuries are the reason for his absence and NOPE, NOTHING ELSE TO SEE HERE. “There are many false reports going around by the media that are completely inaccurate,” he said. “Any news regarding my health or playing schedule will come directly from me and my team.”

The “many false reports” DeChambeau refers to are actually one report from No Laying Up’s WM Phoenix Open recap podcast. Multiple sources told Chris Solomon of NLU that DeChambeau said to other players that he was done playing on the PGA Tour. This indicates, of course, that he is ready to make an imminent jump to the Saudi-backed Super Golf League. Now, while Solomon said he was confident in his sources, he made it clear that he didn’t necessarily believe that Bryson would follow through on his word. On Monday, DeChambeau’s agent referred to NLU’s report as “more baseless claims” and reiterated that the big man was “100% injured.”

We have no reason to believe Bryson isn’t hurt. We also have no reason to believe that NLU’s sources are relaying inaccurate information. Whether behind closed doors or not, DeChambeau hasn’t exactly concealed his interest in Saudi Arabia’s golf initiatives. He has played in every edition of the Saudi International, and his public support for Charley Hoffman’s recent Instagram rant came as a surprise to no one. Playing victim to “many false reports” won’t change a perception that he himself has cultivated.


The Latest from The Fried Egg

We’re coming for you, Philadelphia! The second edition of our Cheesesteak event will be held at Huntingdon Valley Country Club on Monday, August 8. We also have tee times reserved for Cheesesteak participants at LuLu Country Club on Sunday, August 7, and at Llanerch Country Club on Tuesday, August 9. Registration information will be available soon.

Citizen Rhodes – Dubbed the “Black Jack Nicklaus” by Charlie Sifford, Ted Rhodes played pro golf in an era that did not always welcome him. In fact, Rhodes was actively excluded. Contributor Shawn Allen tells the story of how Ted Rhodes persisted as a golfer and inspired future generations.

Paulie’s Picks: Genesis Invitational – It usually takes experience to win at Riviera. See if Paulie thinks that trend will continue this week, or if he thinks a young buck might capture the title.

The Fried Egg Podcast: PGA Tour Update with Joseph LaMagna  – Joseph LaMagna returns to the podcast to give an update on which PGA Tour players have impressed and disappointed early in the 2022 PGA Tour season. Listen on iTunes and Spotify.

The Shotgun Start – Andy and Brendan discuss the Saudi cloud over the PGA Tour’s best event and Bryson’s ongoing adventures in public relations. Listen on iTunes and Spotify.

Tee Times

Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, and defending champion Max Homa highlight the Genesis Invitational field.

After a month in the Caribbean and Central and South America, the Korn Ferry Tour is back on the mainland for the LECOM Suncoast Classic in Florida.

Quick Hooks

Will Bardwell has a thorough analysis of the history of sportswashing that you should check out. The article contends that Saudi Arabia’s activities in golf should be viewed through that lens and picks apart the excuses of the pro golfers who are involved.

Add Kramer Hickok to the list of PGA Tour members saying curious things about the Super Golf League. On the Stripe Show Podcast, Hickok claimed that 17 players have signed on with the SGL. He also stated that one of the issues players have with the PGA Tour is that major championships don’t have big enough purses. Important note: the PGA Tour doesn’t run the major championships.

The Stanford women’s golf team, undefeated prior to this week, was upset by San Jose State at the Lamkin San Diego Invitational on Tuesday. Rose Zhang also recorded the first individual “loss” of her collegiate career. (She finished T-4.)

Wake Forest’s Michael Brennan shot 66 in the Genesis Invitational Collegiate Shootout on Monday to earn a spot in the field at Riviera.

The first 2022 PGA Tour Canada Q-School is underway in Florida.

Tiger Woods is scheduled to speak at the Genesis Invitational on Wednesday afternoon.