The PGA Tour has decided to move the Genesis Invitational from Los Angeles, an area heavily affected by wildfires. On Friday, it was announced that the tournament will take place from February 13 to 16 at the South course of Torrey Pines in San Diego, with a focus on providing support to those impacted by the devastation caused by the fires.
This change means that Torrey Pines will host two tournaments within a four-week time frame. The PGA Tour confirmed that the prestigious $20 million event, endorsed by Tiger Woods, will return to the Riviera Country Club next year. Although Riviera was not damaged, it is situated in the Pacific Palisades area, which has experienced severe destruction, with fires claiming 28 lives and demolishing over 14,000 structures since January 7.
Tiger Woods expressed his hope through a statement, stating, “While Riviera remains the home of the Genesis Invitational, we look forward to playing on another championship caliber golf course this year and using the tournament to support those affected by the fires in the Los Angeles area.”
This announcement coincided with the ongoing preparation for the Farmers Insurance Open, taking place at Torrey Pines. By utilizing the same golf course for two tournaments within such a short span, the tour can leverage the existing infrastructure.
Marty Gorsich, the CEO of the Century Club of San Diego, which organizes the Farmers Insurance Open, mentioned that local tournament staff and volunteers are eager to assist, despite Tiger Woods’ TGR Live organization taking on the role of managing the February event.
Gorsich emphasized the importance of unity, noting, “This wasn’t a bid process. It wasn’t about getting something. It was being able to be chosen to help… I think here in San Diego, we compete so much with LA and consider them a rival, yet we’re all SoCal together.” He added, “This is an opportunity for San Diego to come together and do something with our brothers and sisters up in LA… to give them a place to host their event and a sense of community while they rise above this challenge.”
As of now, Woods has not revealed if he plans to compete in the event. The Genesis Invitational is the only non-major tournament he has participated in since his tragic car accident in February 2021. Woods has won at Torrey Pines eight times during his professional career, including the 2008 U.S. Open. His last appearance on this course was in 2020, where he finished tied for ninth, marking his most recent top 10 finish on the PGA Tour.
This year marks the first occasion since 1998 that the tournament, historically known as the Los Angeles Open, will not take place at Riviera. In 1998, the event was relocated to TPC Valencia, as Riviera was busy preparing for the U.S. Senior Open. The Genesis Invitational made its debut at Riviera in 1929.
Riviera has a rich history, having served as the venue for both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. It is also slated to host the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time in 2026, along with the golf competition for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the U.S. Open again in 2031, the first since 1948.
Torrey Pines has been a fixture on the PGA Tour since 1968, hosting two U.S. Opens during that time. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan highlighted the significance of moving the Genesis Invitational to promote resilience in Los Angeles and the ongoing recovery efforts, saying, “Highlighting the resilience of Los Angeles and the need for continued support for the ongoing recovery efforts is what our collective teams are working towards with the playing of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines.”
Historically, Torrey Pines has hosted events just five months apart, as seen during the U.S. Open in 2008 and 2021. In a similar vein, Muirfield Village hosted consecutive tournaments in 2020 due to adjustments implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
