Rory McIlroy criticizes 'horrible change' to Riviera's 4th hole

World No. 2 golfer unhappy with par-3 hole being lengthened to 270 yards for Genesis Invitational

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Rory McIlroy, the world's second-ranked golfer, has voiced his strong disapproval of a change made to the 4th hole at Riviera Country Club ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational. The par-3 hole has been lengthened from 230 yards to 270 yards, a move that McIlroy calls a 'horrible change' that he believes will not improve the strategic challenge of the hole.

Why it matters

Long par-3 holes have become more common on the PGA Tour, but many players and golf analysts argue they do not offer much strategic interest or compelling golf to watch. McIlroy's criticism of the Riviera change highlights the ongoing debate about finding the right balance between difficulty and enjoyment on the professional golf circuit.

The details

According to McIlroy, only about 15% of the field was able to reach the green on the 230-yard 4th hole in previous tournaments at Riviera. He believes that pushing the hole back to 270 yards will make it even more difficult, requiring players to fly the ball all the way to the green with a 3-iron, which could lead to shots ending up on the 5th tee box. McIlroy argues that the course would need to change the grass type and apron leading up to the green in order to make a 275-yard par-3 work properly.

  • The Genesis Invitational is scheduled for this week at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

The players

Rory McIlroy

A professional golfer from Northern Ireland who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. He has won three times on the PGA Tour in the last year, including The Masters, and played a key role in Europe's Ryder Cup victory.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think 4 plays any differently, you're just hitting a slightly longer club. I actually think it's a horrible change.”

— Rory McIlroy (Yahoo Sports)

“Well, like 15 percent of the field hit the green last time when it was played at its original yardage at 230. Like if you want it to be a 275-yard par-3, you have to change the apron leading up onto the green. It can't be kikuyu, it has to be another type of grass that can help you run it onto the green.”

— Rory McIlroy (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Riviera Country Club will reconsider the change to the 4th hole in response to McIlroy's criticism, or if the new 270-yard par-3 will remain in place for this week's Genesis Invitational.

The takeaway

McIlroy's vocal disapproval of the Riviera course change highlights the ongoing debate in professional golf about finding the right balance between difficulty and enjoyment. While some courses have opted for longer par-3 holes, many players and fans argue these changes can make the golf less strategically interesting to watch.