Nina Caldwell
The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is hosted by Tiger Woods and is played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. The tournament was first played in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. Since 2015, the Collegiate Showcase has offered rising collegiate stars a chance to earn a spot in a PGA Tour field.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Genesis Invitational |
| Year Started | 1926 |
| Previous Names | Los Angeles Open, Genesis Open, Northern Trust Open, Nissan Open |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Month | February |
| Location | Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles |
| Host | Tiger Woods |
| Notable Past Winners | Ben Hogan |
| Charitable Causes | California Rises |
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What You'll Learn
- The Genesis Invitational is hosted by Tiger Woods
- It is played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club
- The tournament began in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open
- It is one of only five tournaments given invitational status by the PGA Tour
- Genesis donated $8 million to the California Rises charitable initiative
The Genesis Invitational is hosted by Tiger Woods
The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in Southern California. It was first played in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. The tournament is hosted by Tiger Woods, who welcomes an elite field to the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades for what is often the concluding event of the tour's "West Coast Swing".
Woods has hosted the Genesis Invitational since 2020. He played his first PGA Tour event in the forerunner to the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in 1992. This was also the site of Jack Nicklaus' professional debut in 1962. Nicklaus had teed it up in 19 events over the previous five seasons before the 1962 PGA Tour season. Nicklaus tied for 50th and earned $33.33.
Woods has said:
> To be included with two of the greatest golfers of all time, in my hometown and at an event that benefits my TGR Foundation is something I could never have imagined when I first visited Riviera with my Pop.
The TGR Foundation, founded by Woods in 1996, empowers students from under-resourced communities to pursue their passions through education. The Genesis Invitational has supported the foundation since 2009 through the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, which has represented the advancement of diversity in the game of golf.
The Riviera Country Club has hosted the tournament on a near-continuous basis since 1973. The South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group, through its Genesis Motors subsidiary, took over sponsorship in 2017.
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It is played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club
The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The tournament was first played in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. Since 1973, it has been held at Riviera on a near-continuous basis.
The Riviera Country Club is among the most respected courses in the United States. It is considered one of the most challenging courses on the PGA Tour. The Genesis Invitational is often the concluding event of the tour's "West Coast Swing" early in the calendar year, before the tour moves east to Florida.
The tournament has a rich history, with past winners including Ben Hogan, who is a three-time winner of the LA Open. Hogan cemented his legacy as one of the top professional golfers in history. Other notable names associated with the tournament include Tiger Woods, who hosted the tournament, and Jack Nicklaus, who had previously participated in 19 events before the 1962 PGA Tour season.
The Genesis Invitational is more than just a golf tournament; it also has a strong charitable aspect. In 2025, Genesis donated $8 million and 100 tournament vehicles to support firefighters, first responders, and arts education through the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. The tournament has also supported students from under-resourced communities through the TGR Foundation, founded by Tiger Woods.
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The tournament began in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open
The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in Southern California. The tournament began 99 years ago in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open, debuting at the Los Angeles Country Club. The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce put up a $10,000 purse for the first LA Open, the richest prize at the time in professional golf.
The tournament was staged at various courses throughout the Los Angeles area in its early years. In 1927, the event moved to El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana for the only time. In 1928, it moved again to the Wilshire Country Club in the Hancock Park neighbourhood. The event then made its first foray to the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades in 1929 and 1930 before returning to Los Angeles for the next decade.
From 1931 to 1933, the tournament alternated between Wilshire CC and Hillcrest Country Club, then returned to Los Angeles CC from 1934 to 1936. It was played at Griffith Park (Wilson course) from 1937 to 1939 and again at Los Angeles CC in 1940. Babe Zaharias played in the 1938 event, becoming the first woman to play in a professional golf tournament for men.
The event returned to Riviera CC in 1941 and was played again at Hillcrest CC in 1942 before World War II intervened. After the war, the tournament continued to be held at various courses in Southern California, including Rancho Park Golf Course and Valencia Country Club, before permanently settling at The Riviera Country Club in 1973.
The Riviera Country Club, known for being the site of Jack Nicklaus' professional debut and Tiger Woods' first PGA Tour tournament as an amateur player, has hosted the tournament on a near-continuous basis since 1973. The South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group, through its Genesis Motors subsidiary, took over sponsorship of the tournament in 2017, and it was renamed the Genesis Invitational.
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It is one of only five tournaments given invitational status by the PGA Tour
The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour. This means that it has a reduced number of players, with only 69 participants in 2024, compared to most full-field open tournaments, which typically have 156 players. The other four tournaments with this status are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Charles Schwab Challenge, and the Memorial Tournament.
The Genesis Invitational is played annually in February at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Southern California. It is often the concluding event of the tour's "West Coast Swing" before moving east to Florida. The tournament has been held at Riviera on a near-continuous basis since 1973. The South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group, through its Genesis Motors subsidiary, has been the sponsor since 2017.
The Genesis Invitational was first played 99 years ago in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. Other previous names include Genesis Open, Northern Trust Open, and Nissan Open. The tournament has only twice been played at courses other than Riviera since 1973: at Rancho Park Golf Course in 1983 while Riviera prepared to host the PGA Championship, and at Valencia Country Club in 1998 while Riviera readied for the U.S. Senior Open.
The Genesis Invitational is known for its charitable initiatives. In 2025, Genesis partnered with the PGA Tour and TGR Live to sponsor California Rises, donating $8 million, including 100 tournament vehicles and cash contributions to support firefighters and first responders, and rebuild access to arts education and music programs through the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. Genesis also pledged to donate $300 for every birdie or eagle and $10,000 for every hole-in-one during the tournament, with PGA Tour pros further amplifying the impact through their contributions.
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Genesis donated $8 million to the California Rises charitable initiative
The Genesis Invitational is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in Southern California. The tournament was first played in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. Since 2017, the South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group, through its Genesis Motors subsidiary, has sponsored the tournament.
In 2025, Genesis donated $8 million to the California Rises charitable initiative. Genesis partnered with TGR Live and the PGA Tour to launch the initiative at the 2025 Genesis Invitational. The initiative aimed to drive relief and recovery efforts for communities affected by the recent wildfire devastation in the Los Angeles area and across California. Genesis donated $8 million in 100 tournament vehicles and cash contributions. The tournament also served as a platform to highlight the remarkable stories of resilience and response from the community, first responders, and charitable organizations.
The proceeds of California Rises went to four charitable organizations: the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, the California Fire Foundation, and the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. These organizations played a significant role in the wildfire response and continued to support ongoing recovery efforts. The Genesis Inspiration Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is committed to connecting youth to the transformative power of the arts. The foundation supported arts education programs at schools impacted by the fires.
In addition to the vehicle and cash donations, Genesis also contributed to the "Birdies for Good" donation pledge. During the tournament, $300 was donated for every birdie or eagle, and $10,000 was donated for every hole-in-one. All ticket fees from the 2025 tournament were also donated to the California Rises initiative.
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Frequently asked questions
The Genesis Invitational, formerly known as the Los Angeles Open, is usually held at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
The Genesis Invitational usually takes place in February.
Genesis Motors, a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group, has sponsored the tournament since 2017.
Tiger Woods is the official host of the Genesis Invitational.
The Genesis Invitational is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour, consequently having a reduced field of players.
