LOS ANGELES — Rory McIlroy navigated a day of challenging conditions at Riviera Country Club, sharing the clubhouse lead with Jacob Bridgeman after the first round of the Genesis Invitational. McIlroy carded a 5-under 66, a score achieved despite a three-hour weather delay caused by rain and a subsequent shift to strong, cold winds.
The day’s contrasting conditions tested the field, with putting surfaces becoming unusually soft yet remarkably quick. McIlroy’s round was highlighted by three birdies in his first four holes and a crucial par save on the sixth, where he chipped over a strategically placed bunker. He dropped only one shot throughout the round.
“I’ve started to just really enjoy this style of golf,” McIlroy said, reflecting on his evolving approach to challenging weather. “If you had asked me 10 years ago, I didn’t enjoy these conditions, but it’s been a shift in a mindset and maybe just a continuation of trying to build upon the skill set that I have. Then when it does get to conditions like this, I’m a lot more prepared. I wouldn’t say I enjoy them, but I can certainly handle them better.”
Bridgeman, who recently contended at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, demonstrated his own resilience, particularly as the wind intensified. He capitalized on the conditions, picking up five birdies in a ten-hole stretch after play resumed.
“I think one of my strengths is flighting shots down, hitting shots where people don’t really know how far it’s playing, what the number actually is and just kind of feeling it out,” Bridgeman explained. “I think today, especially in the wind, it played into my favour. I got to hit some of those shots that I saw some people hitting high ballooning shots that were getting smoked by the wind.”
Aaron Rai sits just behind the leaders, at 6-under with two holes remaining when darkness suspended play. Ryan Fox posted a 67, while Collin Morikawa, fresh off his victory at Pebble Beach, carded a 68.
The unusual green conditions drew attention from players, with Adam Scott experiencing a rare occurrence on the par-3 sixth, where his tee shot landed inches from the cup but plugged into the turf. Morikawa noted the unpredictable nature of the greens, stating, “I honestly don’t know how they got it to this. Like, I’ve never seen greens like this. You could stop any club from anyplace — from the rough, flyer lies. I think I had two or three shots today, flyers out of the first cut and rough and I’m not worried about missing the green at all.”
In stark contrast to McIlroy’s successful navigation of the conditions, Scottie Scheffler struggled significantly. He finished the day tied for last in the 72-man field, failing to record a single birdie through his first ten holes. His difficulties were compounded by visible frustration, including a forceful slam of a bathroom door on the ninth hole.
Scheffler’s opening round included a three-putt par on the first hole, missed greens, and putts from close range. On the par-5 eighth, his tee shot found a barranca, and he ultimately three-putted from 20 feet. He was five over par when play was suspended, facing an eight-foot birdie putt on the 11th.
This marks the third consecutive tournament where Scheffler has struggled to break par in the opening round, a pattern not seen since his rookie season in . The struggles are particularly concerning given his status as the world’s number one ranked golfer.
Bridgeman’s round included an impressive eagle putt on the opening par-5, though he encountered a setback on the par-3 fourth, finding himself short of the green and requiring multiple chips. However, he recovered strongly when play resumed, demonstrating his ability to thrive in the challenging wind conditions.
Play is scheduled to resume morning, with a forecast of dry conditions for the remainder of the week. McIlroy will look to build on his strong start and secure a victory at Riviera, a feat neither Tiger Woods nor Jack Nicklaus has accomplished. A win would also mark his 30th career PGA Tour title.
