Rory McIlroy Blasts Riviera's New Par 3 as "Horrible Change"

PGA star criticizes lengthening of the fourth hole ahead of The Genesis Invitational

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Rory McIlroy has strongly criticized the decision to extend the Par 3 fourth hole at Riviera Country Club, the venue for this week's Genesis Invitational. The renowned PGA Tour stop has lengthened the hole from around 235 yards to approximately 275 yards, a change that McIlroy says is "a horrible change" and will negatively impact playability due to the course's kikuyu grass.

Why it matters

The modifications to the fourth hole at Riviera highlight the ongoing tension between course difficulty and fair play that tournament organizers must balance. McIlroy's comments reflect broader player concerns about how changes to well-established holes can affect strategy and scoring, especially at a prestigious event like The Genesis Invitational.

The details

The traditionally challenging fourth hole at Riviera was already one of the longest Par 3s on the PGA Tour. This year, organizers extended the hole to around 275 yards, requiring players to use more club off the tee. McIlroy criticized this change, noting that the kikuyu grass leading up to the green will make it difficult to run the ball onto the putting surface, especially when hitting long irons.

  • The Genesis Invitational is scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Rory McIlroy

A professional golfer and four-time major champion who has expressed strong disapproval over the lengthening of the Par 3 fourth hole at Riviera Country Club.

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What they’re saying

“I actually think it's a horrible change.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

“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 because, again, in the right conditions, you try to fly that ball on the green with a 3-iron, it's going to finish up on the fifth tee box. That's sort of what I mean by why it's not a great change.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer (theconwaybulletin.com)

What’s next

The Genesis Invitational is scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026, where players will face the new, lengthened Par 3 fourth hole at Riviera Country Club.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge tournament organizers face in balancing course difficulty with fair play. While changes are often made to heighten the challenge, players like Rory McIlroy are concerned that modifications to well-established holes can negatively impact strategy and scoring, especially when the course conditions are not properly accounted for.