It will be held as an “invitation match”! ! The Genesis Invitational

The Genesis Invitational is one of golf's premier official tour tournaments. The tournament host was Tiger Woods. This time, the tournament has been upgraded to an "invitational" and its name has been changed, and the total prize money has increased by $190 million to $930 million (approximately 10 billion yen). Only 120 carefully selected invited players will be able to participate.
Adam Scott (Australia), who won his first PGA Tour victory in four years, won a fierce battle among the world's top players and took home the $167 prize money and three-year seeding rights. Among the Japanese competitors, Hideki Matsuyama fought well and tied for 4000th place.
In preparation for this prestigious event, all RCC staff work throughout the year to maintain the best course conditions. Approximately 40 external personnel from all over the world, including the United States and Japan, also participated in RCC course maintenance to hone their course management skills. We are also accepting human resources from Kasumigaseki CC, which will be the venue for the golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics this July.
We would also like to share some exciting news with you. In a US golf magazine's annual anonymous survey of US tour pros, RCC came in first place when asked, ``What is your favorite tournament course?'' In fact, 1 in 5 professionals answered that they liked the Riviera the most, by far the most. RCC was also ranked 1rd in another US golf magazine's ``Best Courses Chosen by Tour Pros'', following Augusta National and Harbor Town, and we are very honored to receive such high praise from US tour pros.　
“Load to 2028” is currently underway at RCC. The RCC is scheduled to be the venue for the men's and women's golf competitions at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The RCC was also the venue for the equestrian events at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Riviera will make every effort as a group to take this second opportunity to directly contribute to the Olympic Games.

Riviera is also happy to be able to build solid partnerships with various tournament officials. One of our partners, RCC official photographer Takashi Miyamoto, wrote about his thoughts on the PGA Tour and RCC.
The following is Miyamoto's contribution.

The first time I visited RCC was in 88 when I accompanied professional golfer Tsuneyuki Nakajima on a trip to challenge the American PGA Tour. Late last year, when Nakajima announced that he would be competing on the PGA Tour, I made up my mind and asked to travel with him.
I also photographed several American games that year, including the Masters, and I dreamed of traveling all over the United States someday.
Nakajima had heard that he was difficult, but unexpectedly he readily agreed, saying, ``It's interesting, let's go together.'' His first race in 88 was the Nissan Open at RCC.
I arrived at the gate from Los Angeles Airport in a car with Pro Nakajima, who showed me his PGA Tour badge, and was greeted by strong security. We photographers rarely enter through the main gate. It was natural to enter through a media-only gate set up somewhere else, and the moment that gate opened, I experienced a special feeling that filled my heart. Is this the atmosphere of a course that is said to be one of the world's most prestigious? I felt as if I had stepped into an incredible world. The clubhouse is located on a hill and overlooks the entire course. The wind blowing from the Santa Monica coast was a little cold, but I felt happy under the blue California sky.
Even after traveling around the world for a quarter of a century, the feeling I felt at the beginning has not changed: ``RCC is the best.'' I could never forget that moment, even living in Los Angeles, and never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be approached by President Watanabe and now become the official photographer of RCC.

RCC was designed in 1926 by Philadelphia native George Thomas.
A distinctive feature of Thomas' course design was his talent for creating signature holes. For example, the 4th hole at RCC is a par 200 over 3 yards, but there is a route on the right side that allows even short hitters to hit the hole. All 1 holes have a memorable structure, including the idea of ​​installing a bunker in the center of the 6th green, the fairway split into left and right sides on the 8th hole, and the 4th hole, which Nicklaus praised as the world's best short par 10.
RCC is separated by eucalyptus trees, and several holes have Sycamore symbol trees filled with RCC's history. Humphrey Bogard used to sit under a tree drinking bourbon by the 12th hole green. For this reason, this sycamore tree was loved by the members as the ``Bogie Tree.''
This wonderful George Thomas design has changed over time, but now that Mr. Watanabe is working on RCC, he has been making repeated efforts to return it to the original. The natural environment has changed since the time it was first designed, and the trees have grown larger. RCC has remained committed to greenery and has maintained tradition while incorporating the latest innovations, making it the best course in its 93-year history.
In recent years, most of the courses on the PGA Tour have become TPC-style tournament courses, and there are only a few classic courses like RCC. For young players who have little experience playing on classic courses, playing here requires more skill than is normally required.
In addition, RCC has a distinctive par 3, a dogleg par 4 that is divided left and right, and a par 5 that makes you want a birdie, but it is a straight hole for some reason. This straight par 5 is tricky, and it's no wonder that so many players have trouble hitting the tee.
Also, because the entire course is shaped like a mortar, it is very difficult to read the wind above the ball when it reaches its highest point.

The Genesis Invitational is an invitational match for Tiger Woods this year. The RCC was his first tournament on the PGA Tour in 92, when he was just 16 years old. Tiger chose this memorable course for his invitational match. Most of the participants are from the ``Tiger generation'' and began playing golf after watching Tiger on TV and admiring him when they were young. The way they look at Tiger is passionate.
I was also lucky enough to witness Tiger's debut. In 96, he won three consecutive U.S. Amateur Championship titles and turned professional. The period from then until his first Masters win the following year was the moment when he rose to superstardom. For sports photographers, it is a blessing to have met such athletes. All 3 of Tiger's major wins were captured on camera.
This year, when Tiger was invited, I felt special.

Before dawn, when the eastern sky changes from lapis lazuli to Shinonome color, the dry Los Angeles sky shows a stunning gradation that cannot be described in words.
You can almost hear the Eagles' songs from the silhouette of a palm tree in the distance.
And when the sun shows its face, the course is covered with a carpet of shadows. The sycamore tree glowed even whiter.
The wind blowing from Santa Monica was crisp, perhaps because it caressed the cold ocean. The sound of balls coming from the practice field echoes over the course.
A feeling of happiness that cannot be expressed in words surrounds my body.
In my 30 years of traveling to golf courses around the world, I can't give you this feeling at every course. At times like these, he is grateful for his vocation that allows him to enjoy the sky.

1. RCC seen from above　
2. 6th hole with a bunker in the center of the green　
3. 10th hole praised by Jack Nicklaus　
4. Before dawn

During the Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods, the tournament host at the RCC guest house, and Riviera Group representative Akira Watanabe deepened their friendship.
I met Tiger Woods when he was 16 years old and made a spectacular debut at RCC. We have always talked as friends who love golf, and as fans who have been rooting for him to win at Riviera someday.
The meeting started with both celebrating the great achievement of winning 82 games on the US tour and the upgrade to this season's "invitational match," but before we knew it, the conversation turned to their shared interest in "social contribution activities."
The PGA Tour has a significant economic impact on the United States and is also active in philanthropy. Woods' TGR Foundation education support fund reaches $200 million annually in Los Angeles. I fell in love with Tiger all over again, as his passion for his activities reflects the personality of Tiger, who has continued to be active in the golf world for many years, despite the various conditions at times.
Meanwhile, the Riviera Group, which is promoting the "Riviera Future Creation Project," is also focusing its efforts on RCC. We have continued to make donations as a fund since 1988, when we took over the business, and we are currently working on initiatives such as the ``Ogawa Project,'' which brings clean water to Santa Monica, and the ``Tree Project,'' which replaces equipment with ecological wooden equipment. .
At the meeting between Woods and Watanabe, each reaffirmed their commitment to further efforts. Tiger and Riviera's collaboration and empathy will deepen even further in the field of social contribution.