Masters champion Rory McIlroy is heading to the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players with renewed confidence after a thrilling performance at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Despite starting six shots behind, McIlroy pushed the young Jacob Bridgeman to the edge, showcasing his prowess on the course.
Bridgeman, a 26-year-old from South Carolina, held his nerve to fend off McIlroy and clubhouse leader Kurt Kitayama, finishing with a one-over 72 to clinch his first PGA Tour title at 18-under-par. Bridgeman’s victory, marked by a $4 million prize and a Masters debut, was sealed with words of encouragement from host Tiger Woods, who quipped, “You’ve got one on me.”
McIlroy, who remains winless at Riviera like Woods and Jack Nicklaus, is feeling optimistic about his game as he prepares to defend his Masters title in 44 days. His performances on the US West Coast have been top-notch, particularly his ability to minimize mistakes. After a challenging outing at Pebble Beach, where he finished 14th despite several big numbers, McIlroy made just three bogeys at Riviera, securing his 13th runner-up finish on the PGA Tour.
Reflecting on his play, McIlroy said, “I managed to cut out the big numbers this week. I think I only had three bogeys for the week, and my game feels in really good shape. I'm looking forward to the upcoming tournaments.”
Riviera’s demanding greens tested McIlroy early on, but he found his rhythm on the back nine. “I holed some putts late, but I’ll look back at the missed opportunities over the previous 27 holes,” he admitted. Despite this, McIlroy views the week as a success and is eager to continue refining his game ahead of Bay Hill and The Players.
He also praised Bridgeman, who saw his lead narrow to one stroke over Kitayama and two over McIlroy on the final hole. Bridgeman’s final par putt secured his victory, and he was warmly congratulated by Woods, who acknowledged the iconic atmosphere of Riviera’s 18th hole.
Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler experienced a rare slip, finishing outside the top 10 for the first time since last March’s The Players. His opening 74 proved costly, despite a strong closing 65 that left him tied for 12th.
Shane Lowry ended on a high note, making seven birdies in his final round to finish tied for 24th. He now heads to the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches, joining fellow Irishman Seamus Power in the field.