Uncertainty surrounds the Genesis Invitational next month (13-16 February). The fires are ravaging the state of California like never before, and the city of Los Angeles is suffering the consequences of the devastating catastrophe.
Tiger Woods, the event organiser, is unsure about what will happen with the tournament played in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, devastated by the fire. Riviera Country Club, the tournament venue, has avoided the flames, but the desolation throughout the state of California is immense.
The fires that have been consuming homes and businesses in Los Angeles for a week have resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, forced hundreds of thousands to relocate, and destroyed over 12,000 buildings.
Tiger insists that at the moment, the concerns are much greater and not about discussing the event. “It’s very tough, everything that’s happening,” he acknowledged. The Cypress native grew up in Southern California and knows “a couple of people who have lost everything” in his close circle.
The fifteen-time major champion said on Tuesday night, after his debut in the indoor golf league TGL, that meetings are planned regarding what will happen with the tournament, but he has not revealed any decisions or suggested that the event could be moved to another course.
He reiterates that there should be more important conversations and focuses on helping as many affected people as possible: “We are trying to sort everything out and ensure that everyone is safe, and we have meetings scheduled for the future,” Woods said. “But right now, we are not focused on the tournament. It’s more about what we can do to help all those who are struggling, who have lost their homes and whose lives have been changed.”
For now, the PGA Tour has not announced any updates on its plans regarding the Genesis. Riviera, which will also host golf in the 2028 Olympic Games, has not been directly affected, but we will have to wait to know the final decision.
