Pacific Palisades, CA

A very strong field tees up this week at Riviera. This is a course that the pros respect and love to play. Tiger Woods is the host which may also play into why so many of the top 20 players in the world are on hand.

Who should win? – Patrick Cantlay (12/1)

He’s been the hottest player in the world for about the last six months and lost in a playoff last week when his trust putter failed him – just a bit.

Who could win? – Jon Rahm (9/1), Hideki Matsuyama (25/1), Cameron Smith (22/1)

When Rahm has his “B” game, he still seems to finish in the top 10. He’s been a little rusty lately but could win here if the putter complies. Smith is ready for a breakthrough season. He finished in the top-5 last year and has the game to win on tough tracks. Matsuyama is starting to look like the player we all thought he could be about five years ago.

Longer shots to consider – Max Homa (55/1), Bubba Watson (45/1)

Homa is the defending champion and despite a few MC’s has seen his game come around lately. Watson has been in the wilderness recently but he has won this event twice and played well last week in Phoenix.

Who will win? – Hideki Matsuyama

Coming off an eighth place finish last week and two wins in his last five events, Matsuyama has had a some good results here in the past.