The Genesis Invitational Round 1

Rory McIlroy and Jacob Bridgeman emerged as the clubhouse leaders after the first day of play, each carding a 5-under-par 66. McIlroy’s round was highlighted by a scorching start—three birdies in his first four holes—and a miraculous par save on the par-3 sixth, where he famously chipped over a bunker located in the middle of the green. While McIlroy utilized his veteran experience to navigate the cooling temperatures, the young Bridgeman continued his impressive form from Pebble Beach to join him at the top. The afternoon was defined by a three-hour rain delay that forced many players to finish their rounds in near-darkness or return early Friday morning. Aaron Rai surged late to finish at 6-under-par, eventually taking the official solo lead once the first round was fully completed. Meanwhile, the biggest story of the day was the struggle of Scottie Scheffler. The world’s top-ranked player endured one of his most frustrating rounds in years, finishing with a 4-over 75. Scheffler’s struggles on the greens left him tied for 64th, mirroring his recent trend of deep opening-round deficits. Other notable performances included Ryan Fox (67) and Collin Morikawa (68), who both remained within striking distance of the lead.