Genesis Invitational_result_and_review_ Finau denied again as Homa holds firm

In search of his first PGA Tour title, Sam Burns led by 5 strokes on the midway stage of the Genesis Invitational and by two with a spherical to go. The pre-event 180.0179/1 probability, who was matched at a excessive of 300.0299/1, began the fourth and remaining spherical very properly and he was matched at a low of simply 1.4840/85 as he turned for residence with a 3 stroke lead but it surely all acquired a bit ragged after that.

Burns performed the back-nine in two-over par to complete alone in third and the end was ultimately fought out by pre-tournament 80.079/1 probability, Max Homa, who was matched at a excessive of 120.0119/1 earlier than the off and 220.0219/1 in-running, and the perennial bridesmaid, Tony Finau – a pre-tournament 36.035/1 probability, matched at a excessive of 190.0189/1 in-running.

Finau was matched at a low of simply 1.351/3 when he hit the entrance with one gap to play after back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17 however Homa birdied the seventeenth from simply inside seven toes to tie earlier than stiffing his method at 18 to simply three toes 4 inches. Homa was matched at a low of 1.031/33 however, extremely, missed the putt!

How did that not go in…? #GenesisInvitational pic.twitter.com/Oc7ZprHDxx

? Nosferatu (@VC606) February 21, 2021

Finau’s seven-under-par 64 was the very best spherical of the day by two strokes and Homa’s 66 was matched solely by the defending champ, Adam Scott, and Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler. Given the extreme stress that being in-contention brings, neither man deserved to lose however after each posted 12-under-par totals, we had been into additional time.

Finau hit a tidy drive on the first additional gap – the drivable par 4 tenth – that completed simply shy of the inexperienced and he was matched at a low of 1.091/11 when Homa’s drive seemed to be arduous up in opposition to a tree however he made a exceptional restoration to save lots of par as Finau did not make birdie and the pair moved on to the par three 14th.

Incredible chip from the tree from Homa.

Both gamers can have birdie putts upcoming.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/PXhRUSLWRb

? PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 21, 2021

Finau hit his tee-shot within the greenside bunker on 14 earlier than Homa discovered the inexperienced and when the world quantity 13 did not get up-and-down to save lots of par, Homa collected the trophy.

As highlighted within the In-Play Blog, I backed Dustin Johnson earlier than the resumption of play on Sunday morning and after his second shot on the opening gap in spherical 4, the world primary was matched at low of 2.8415/8 however that was as good as it acquired for DJ. He did not make birdie at one and though he birdied three and 6, he was all the time chasing, and he misplaced his manner badly after the ninth.

I made a poor resolution to press my small place on DJ reasonably than simply lay Burns, who all the time appeared like he wasn’t going to fairly get residence, however the alternatives to commerce the occasion had been plentiful on the back-nine so all of it labored out ultimately.

The match going into additional time was an enormous plus and laying Finau at 1.11/10 after the drive on 10 was far and away the very best transfer made but it surely was a irritating consequence. Even that was irritating as I levelled all the pieces off earlier than 14 reasonably than sitting tight somewhat longer but it surely’s all the time straightforward after the occasion.

Had I not been so loyal to DJ, and had I simply gone after Burns extra rigorously, I’d have layed tons extra on Homa and Finau at odds-on however as a substitute I fiddled about and was all the time saving the day reasonably than making hay. And Homa profitable was mildly irritating too given he was my Find Me a 100 Winner choose on the Farmers at 160.0159/1 just some weeks in the past.

Following wins for J.B Holmes two years in the past and James Hahn in 2015, Homa is the third winner of the Genesis Invitational within the final six years to have additionally received the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. And all three had been matched at a triple-figure value earlier than the off!

Holmes was matched at a excessive of 400.0399/1, Hahn was an unconsidered 600.0599/1 probability in 2015 and Homa was matched at a excessive of 120.0119/1 earlier than the off.

Rory McIlroy’s missed minimize at Riviera was largely ignored by the US Masters market and he stays obtainable to put at 14.013/1 however Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau’s missed cuts had been considered in a dimmer gentle.

This was Rory’s first weekend off because the Open Championship in 2019 and it has been considered as one thing of an aberration whereas Thomas and DeChambeau’s present type is inflicting extra concern with the 12 months’s first main lower than two months away.

Thomas hasn’t received because the starting of August, this was his second MC in three begins, and he actually did not look himself at Riviera. The furore that adopted his utterance of a homophobic slur within the opening occasion of the 12 months – the Sentry Tournament of Champions – preceded his weekend off in Abu Dhabi on the European Tour and the dying of his grandad seems to have hit him arduous too. He misplaced his manner in spherical 4 at Phoenix (the day after he died) and he wasn’t on the races final week.

DeChambeau went off favorite for the US Masters in November however after a poor run of outcomes, he is drifted proper out to 21.020/1 for this 12 months’s renewal, after being matched at a low of 11.5. His never-in-contention seventh on the restricted area Sentry TOC is his greatest efficiency in 5 begins since he received the US Open however he’ll have a chance to bounce again this week within the WGC Workday Championship at a course he received at as an novice – the Concession Golf Club in Florida.

The huge movers within the different route had been the runner-up, Finau, who’s crashed from round 50.049/1 to 36.035/1 and Cam Smith, who completed fourth at Riviera. The mullet-sporting Aussie was the primary participant to shoot all 4 rounds within the 60s at Augusta when he completed runner-up to DJ in November and his value has contracted from round 100.099/1 to 60.059/1.

Don’t neglect, Augusta early birds can get eight places on their Masters bets with the Betfair Sportsbook.

We’ve acquired two occasions to look ahead to this week, the aforementioned WGC Workday Championship and the Puerto Rico Open and I’ll be again this night or tomorrow with the previews.

*You can comply with me on Twitter @SteveThePunter