The Downtown Santa Monica shuttles drop passengers off less than a mile away from the welcome banner of the Genesis Invitational. Before reaching the black and gray banners, a group of golf-goers donning green and white Malbon windbreakers interact with the families who are greeting from the front lawns of Pacific Palisades homes.
Young kids work makeshift stands selling lemonade in exchange for a donation toward their community. One poster scribbled in green and blue crayon says, “Go Golf! Support the Palisades.”
More than ever, the Genesis Invitational serves as a masterclass in resilience, with the pristine state of the course and country club culture shaped by the surrounding communities, serving as a testament to the longevity of a tournament that has remained a landmark golf event for a century. The competition is not only a celebration of a premier PGA Tour event’s decorated history, but also a homecoming. This year marks the tournament’s return to the iconic Riviera Country Club after relocating to Torrey Pines in 2025 due to the sweeping Los Angeles wildfires.
Aside from being the course where Tiger Woods had his PGA Tour debut and remaining player favorite because of the distinct George C. Thomas course design, the Genesis Invitational has always been shaped by the Palisades community, which is now prepared to welcome all spectators after a year of rebuilding.
The PGA Tour tournament is seizing the opportunity to create history once again with California Rises, a joint initiative with the purpose of giving back to the community that has served it throughout the centennial. Notably, the event and its title partner, Genesis, committed to donating $10 million to the cause, with art wells centered on the charitable efforts greeting people at the entrance walls.
Players competing at the Invitational shared an enthusiasm for returning to Riviera with a respect for the landscape and shifting nature of the course terrain.
“You have a lot of history here, and it’s a golf course that’s stood the test of time,” Scottie Scheffler said. “It’s evolved for the better, and it still challenges us to this day, which is pretty cool.”
Rory McIlroy, who finished just one stroke short of champion Jacob Bridgeman, pointed to the unpredictable nature of the greens when asked why the course still stands.
“We haven’t been here in a year, obviously, and I don’t know why I was surprised by some of the movement and some of how much break you have to play on a lot of the putts out here,” McIlroy said. “I don’t know why I didn’t remember, but it’s like wow.”
As a native Californian, PGA and Open Champion Collin Morikawa saw the tournament both as a homecoming and an opportunity to connect with a community in repair.
“To be back in LA two years later, it’s special,” Morikawa said. “LA is always going to be home for me, but I think anytime the Tour can come back and provide that sense of just -- that ability to escape almost and come out here and hopefully a lot of people want to come and watch and bring business and do that.”
Since 2020, five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods has gone by the title of host instead of golfer at Riviera, having a personal connection as a SoCal kid who began his PGA Tour journey at the renowned course.
“What has stood the test of time is that iconic first tee shot,” Woods said. “When you go back through the test of time and you look at all the photos and you go back 100 years, you’re going to see the same tee shot right in front of the clubhouse.”
As a front-facing figure of the tournament, Woods acknowledged the devastation experienced by those living around the tournament site and efforts to translate the weekend into something impactful.
“People lost their lives, lost homes, lost valuables that they’ll never, ever be able to replace, so hopefully we can make a positive impact this week,” Woods said.
While leaving the grounds on Sunday afternoon, a father and son from the neighborhood walked around to offer fans free Randy’s Donuts before they boarded the shuttle, continuing the spirited and generous nature of the Palisades community that has long been the beating heart of the Genesis Invitational.