Bridgeman secures victory at Genesis Invitational, edging out Rory.
LOS ANGELES — Jacob Bridgeman received applause throughout the day for everyone except himself on Sunday at Riviera, until the final cheers. He made a tense par putt on the 18th hole for a 1-over 72, securing a narrow victory in the Genesis Invitational, marking his first PGA Tour title.
Bridgeman began with a six-shot advantage, which he extended to seven shots with 12 holes to go. Ultimately, it came down to a crucial swing from the 18th fairway that landed 20 feet below the hole, followed by a 3-foot par putt with his shadow cast over the hole.
However, he confidently made the putt for a one-shot win over Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama, both of whom finished strongly, causing Bridgeman to feel more pressure than he desired.
“This is way, way better than I’ve ever dreamt it,” Bridgeman remarked.
Since Adam Scott in 2005, no player has competed at Riviera for the first time and left with the trophy. Bridgeman, a 26-year-old from Clemson, performed well enough last year to qualify for the Tour Championship and has been consistently improving.
He triumphed in a prestigious event against a competitive field, earning $4 million and having host Tiger Woods waiting to congratulate him at the steps overlooking the 18th green.
Bridgeman concluded at 18-under 266 and did not make a birdie over the last 15 holes. He was met with continuous cheers for McIlroy, one of golf’s most beloved players, who was not a contender until he made a bunker shot for birdie on the 12th and finished with birdie-birdie for a 67.
More applause echoed across Riviera — Max Greyserman achieved a hole-in-one on the 14th, Tommy Fleetwood made an eagle from the fairway on the 15th, and Kitayama placed his tee shot close on the par-3 16th before barely clearing the bunker to set up a two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th.
Bridgeman, after a superb approach to 12 feet for birdie on the third hole that garnered only a modest response from the LA crowd, did not play poorly. He executed a solid chip on the fourth that resulted in a bogey. The remainder of the round consisted of consistent 20-foot birdie opportunities.
However, he found the bunker on the 16th and had to sink a 5-foot bogey putt to maintain his lead. His birdie attempts on the 17th and 18th were disappointingly short on greens where short putts can be daunting.
The final par putt elicited a mix of joy and relief.
“I thought it was going to be a lot easier,” Bridgeman stated. “It was honestly easy until I got to 16 and then it got really hard. I made it as hard as I could have made it.”
Scott, who received a sponsor exemption, recorded five birdies on the back nine and finished with a 63, placing fourth, two shots behind.
Scottie Scheffler, who needed to make a 7-foot par putt on Friday to make the cut, shot 66-65 over the weekend and ended up tied for 12th, marking his worst finish since he tied for 20th at The Players Championship nearly a year ago. He concluded his streak of 18 consecutive top 10 finishes.
Bridgeman is already qualified for the Masters after reaching the Tour Championship last year. He became the first player this year ranked outside the top 50 (No. 52) to win on the PGA Tour. This victory elevates him into the top 25.
He won not only at a historic venue like Riviera but also with McIlroy, the Masters champion, nearby, who received most of the attention until he fell off the pace despite his strong finish. Many putts grazed the edge, and then the final one dropped from 30 feet.
For a moment, it appeared that McIlroy might force extra holes in a playoff when Bridgeman left his first putt short. Yet, as he had all week, Bridgeman maintained his composure. It turns out he felt otherwise.
“I couldn’t even feel my hands on the last couple greens,” Bridgeman shared. “I just hit the putt hoping it would get somewhere near the hole, and both of them I left a mile short. But I’m glad it’s done now.”
