The second major of the year is upon us and we hit a familiar course with the Riviera Country Club, host of the Genesis on the PGA Tour, hosting its first major since 1995 and its first female major full stop. Nelly Korda goes in the hot favourite while Maja Stark looks to defend her crown.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Ball Striking
- GIR
- Scrambling
- Strokes Gained: Around The Ground
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Driving Distance
- Par 5 Scoring
- Bogey Avoidance
The Riviera Country Club is a time-honoured course celebrating 100 years. Designed by George C Thomas and William P Bell, it is a classic Californian course that provides an all-round test. A strong approach game and ability around the greens is critical to success.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- Palos Verdes Championship (2022)
- Mediheal Championship (2021-22)
Nelly Korda has been in Scheffler-esque form this year. She won the first major of the year when claiming The Chevron and in her seven starts she has three wins, three seconds and a T-8. She leads the tour in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, Scrambling, Par 5 Scoring and Bogey Avoidance while ranking second in GIR and Strokes Gained: Around The Green. She is short but she is playing too well not to back.
It is Hannah Green’s form on Californian courses designed by Thomas and Bell that makes her appeal in this one. She finishes 3rd in the 2021 Mediheal and 5th in the 2022 Palos Verde, two great indicators. She ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Putting, 4th in Bogey Avoidance, 5th in GIR and 13th in Par 5 Scoring. She has won twice in her last five starts.
The 2025 Rookie of the Year Ina Yoon has really found some form of late with six straight Top 20 finishes highlighted by a T-4 in the Chevron Championship. She ranks 4th in Ball Striking, 8th in Driving Distance, 10th in Par 5 Scoring and 15th in GIR so has the profile to really make an impact here.
Alison Lee has been an LPGA card holder for 12 years and is still chasing her first major but the LA native grew up playing on courses similar to Riviera and profiles tremendously. She ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Around The Green, 4th in Par 5 Scoring, 6th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green, 8th in Ball Striking and 10th in Scrambling. She is a super bet.
Young Spanish bomber Julia Lopez Ramirez finished T-19 in this event last year and this track looks to suit her skillset more. She leads the tour in Driving Distance while she ranks 10th in GIR and 12th in Ball Striking. She has finished Top 45 in six of her last nine starts so playing well enough.