Jacob Bridgeman and Rory McIlroy Take the Lead at the Rain-Delayed Genesis Invitational

Rain and Roars Return as Genesis Invitational Kicks Off

The Genesis Invitational commenced Thursday at the Riviera Country Club, marked by enthusiastic cheers from fans and intermittent rain. English golfer Aaron Rai surged into the lead, reaching six under par through 16 holes, before play was suspended at 5:41 p.m. due to weather conditions. Rai, along with 29 other competitors, will complete their first rounds Friday morning.

Jacob Bridgeman remained undeterred by a nearly three-hour delay, posting a five-under-par 66 to share the clubhouse lead with world No. 2 Rory McIlroy. "Awesome course," Bridgeman remarked as he exited the press area. "Played it yesterday for the first time and I love it!"

Making his tournament debut, Bridgeman notched four birdies on the back nine, including a critical shot on No. 17 to tie McIlroy. He parred the 18th to secure the clubhouse lead. The 26-year-old from South Carolina is currently ranked 52nd, the highest since his transition to professional golf four years ago, but has yet to claim a Tour victory.

“Today was about learning the course and finding the right spots,” Bridgeman explained. Having played at Clemson University, he added, “Florida is my comfort zone. I’ve never had any success on the West Coast, but I’m starting to figure out these Poa annua greens.”

While McIlroy is a household name in golf, Bridgeman gained attention during last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he held the lead on the back nine, finishing tied for eighth. A strong performance this week could further elevate his profile and potentially add $4 million to his earnings.

Bridgeman’s initiation at Riviera was memorable, highlighted by a stunning 48-foot eagle putt on the par-five first hole. “I got married Dec. 19 — maybe that’s my good luck charm,” he noted with a smile.

Competing alongside Bridgeman, McIlroy successfully reached the green in two strokes on the challenging 590-yard No. 17, drawing even with Bridgeman after a two-putt. As rain began to lessen, wind picked up, making for tough conditions on holes 12 through 16.

“I’ve become much more comfortable playing in conditions like this over the last couple of years,” McIlroy shared. He recently completed a career Grand Slam, securing his 29th PGA Tour victory at the Masters in April. Regarding the modifications to the course, particularly the lengthening of the par-three fourth hole, he expressed dissatisfaction but managed to birdie it, ending the day at three under.

Once affected by the Palisades Fire, the tournament returned to its traditional venue this year. In the opening round, the demanding Riviera course did not yield many low scores, with only 28 of the 72 players finishing under par.

Tournament host Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion, reflected on the community’s recovery since last year’s fire, stating, "Last year was just horrific for this entire community. For us to be able to come back here is great. Hopefully, we can make a positive impact this week."

The field features 41 of the top 50 players in the World Golf rankings and includes 28 of the top 30 golfers from the 2025 FedExCup standings. Defending champion Viktor Hovland is currently tied for 12th at two under, thanks to a strong finish that included back-to-back birdies.

"I liked my ball striking off the tee," Hovland commented on his performance. "Riviera really suits my game. Not the best putting, but I gave myself a lot of looks."

Among the early crowd favorites were McIlroy, third-ranked Tommy Fleetwood, and fifth-ranked Collin Morikawa, who recently secured a win at Pebble Beach. Morikawa delivered a solid performance with six birdies, nine pars, and three bogeys, placing him in a six-way tie for fifth at three under. "It was a long day," he noted, reflecting on the challenging conditions. "It’s nice to be off to a good start and near the lead."

Fleetwood experienced ups and downs during his round, finishing at two under after a birdie on No. 11 and an eagle on No. 17.

Despite drizzly weather, hundreds of fans lined the fairways, celebrating the tournament’s 100-year anniversary since its original debut as the LA Open in 1926. This marks the 61st time Riviera has hosted the event, having held it all but three times since 1973.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler began his round in challenging form, carding three bogeys and a double-bogey without a single birdie, placing him tied for last at five over through 10 holes. "This is a golf course that’s stood the test of time," he stated prior to the tournament.

Rai, who turns 31 on March 3, has achieved eight wins since turning professional in 2012, including the Wyndham Championship in 2024.