Steve Palmer's Genesis Invitational first-round preview, best bets, free tips

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 2.45pm Thursday

Best bets

Sungjae Im to win threeball
4pts 4-5 Betway

Collin Morikawa to win threeball
3pts 10-11 Sky Bet

Branden Grace top South African
2pts Evens general

Justin Thomas to win the Genesis & The Masters
1pt 150-1 Betfair, Power

First-round preview

The mouthwatering nature of the Genesis Invitational field is highlighted by two star-studded morning threeballs for round one at Riviera Country Club.

Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Cantlay start their Genesis campaign at 3.16pm UK and Ireland time, with Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson following behind. The superstars should get the opportunity to score well, with a sunny, calm day forecast.

Tournament host Tiger Woods, seeking his first Riviera victory, is a late starter, joining his good friends Justin Thomas and Steve Stricker at 7.41pm.

Johnson, Watson and Thomas would be the tentative threeball recommendations for the glamour groups, but safer bets for round one are Sungjae Im (3.06pm) and Collin Morikawa (7.52pm).

Im, the 2019 Rookie of the Year, is one of the most consistent operators on the PGA Tour and has not missed a Stateside cut since May. He lost a Sanderson Farms Championship playoff at the end of September and it seems only a matter of time before the Korean youngster makes his breakthrough.

Im missed the cut on his Riviera debut last year after opening with a 76, but his second-round 69 was beaten by only 18 players in the field, suggesting he quickly got a handle on the previously uncharted terrain. He is much more comfortable on the circuit 12 months later and can leave playing partners Chris Stroud and Russell Henley in his wake.

Stroud and Henley have both missed their last five cuts and both look set to soon drop outside of the world's top 300. Riviera is not an easy place to find your game – it severely punishes mishits – and Im should boss the group from the outset.

Morikawa is a Californian who will be relishing a home-state gig on a course which suits his natural shot-shape. He hits almost everything from left to right, matching much of the Riviera layout, and is playing well enough to make merry. This rising star can outscore Adam Long and Jimmy Walker.

Branden Grace, an in-form fader, can be fancied to finish as top South African, with only Erik van Rooyen and Dylan Frittelli to beat, while Justin Thomas is worth chancing at 150-1 to win both the Genesis Invitational and the Masters.

Fred Couples (1992), Mike Weir (2003) and Bubba Watson (2012) have completed the Genesis-Masters double in the not too distant past, and 20 of the 57 editions of the PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club have been won by Masters champions. Thomas is clearly capable and 150-1 is fair.

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