Tiger Woods admitted that it was “very difficult” to relocate The Genesis Invitational to Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego in the wake of the wildfires in California.
Riviera Country Club is in the hard-hit Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles and was set to hold the Feb. 13-16 tournament, which is hosted by Woods and his foundation.
“The meeting we had was very difficult with the Watanabes (Riviera CC’s owners),” Woods said Monday after his Jupiter Links Golf Club team posted a 4-3 win in overtime against Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf squad in TGL action. “Riv is just not ready. We want to stay on the West Coast, and it narrowed those options down to possibly up near Pebble or to Phoenix or to Vegas or to San Diego or to Palm Springs. There were so many different options out on the table, and we were trying to be understanding to all the victims that these fires have caused, has brought to them.
“The fact that we were able to, with the city of San Diego, were able to stay within Southern California, with respect to the difficulties in LA, I think it’s important that we were able to stay in Southern California because everyone who was born and raised out in Southern Cal can all relate to the fires. It’s a difficult situation, and we want to be very sensitive to that.”
Woods was born and raised in Southern California.
Torrey Pines, an annual tour stop since 1968, is the site of last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. The municipal course also hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens, won by Woods and Spaniard Jon Rahm, respectively.
The PGA Tour said The Genesis Invitational is expected to return to Riviera in 2026. The course also is scheduled to host the golf events in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I think because we’re in Southern California,” Woods said, “I think we’re going to be able to raise more money for all the losses that have incurred.”
–Field Level Media
