Jacob Bridgeman, Rory McIlroy share clubhouse lead at rain-delayed Genesis Invitational

Unfazed by a nearly three-hour weather delay, the two golfers fired matching 5-under 66s at Riviera Country Club.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Jacob Bridgeman and Rory McIlroy share the clubhouse lead at 5-under par after the first round of the Genesis Invitational was delayed by nearly three hours due to rain. Bridgeman, making his tournament debut, carded four birdies on the back nine to pull even with the world No. 2 McIlroy. Play was suspended with 29 players still on the course, including first-round leader Aaron Rai at 6-under through 16 holes.

Why it matters

The Genesis Invitational is one of the PGA Tour's premier events, featuring 41 of the top 50 players in the world. Bridgeman, ranked 52nd, is looking for his first career Tour win, while McIlroy is seeking his 30th PGA Tour title and a chance to complete the career Grand Slam.

The details

Bridgeman, a 26-year-old South Carolinian, carded four birdies on the back nine, including a 48-foot eagle putt on the par-5 1st hole, to pull even with McIlroy. The Englishman Rai was 6-under through 16 holes before play was suspended. McIlroy reached the green in two at the par-5 17th and two-putted for birdie to join Bridgeman atop the leaderboard.

  • Play was suspended at 5:41 p.m. local time due to the weather delay.
  • The first round will resume on Friday morning.

The players

Jacob Bridgeman

A 26-year-old South Carolinian making his tournament debut, Bridgeman is ranked 52nd in the world and seeking his first PGA Tour win.

Rory McIlroy

The world No. 2 player, McIlroy is a 29-time PGA Tour winner and is looking to complete the career Grand Slam this week.

Aaron Rai

The 30-year-old Englishman was 6-under par through 16 holes when play was suspended, holding the first-round lead.

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What they’re saying

“Awesome course. Played it yesterday for the first time and I love it!”

— Jacob Bridgeman (latimes.com)

“I've gotten much more comfortable playing in conditions like this the last couple of years. I'm more prepared than I used to be. I have the skill set now to deal with it.”

— Rory McIlroy (latimes.com)

“I'm trying to keep the same mindset. Back and forth, it was a long day. Rain, no rain, wind, no wind. For a stretch there it was hit and hope. It's nice to be off to a good start and near the lead. We'll see low scores over the next 54 holes.”

— Collin Morikawa (latimes.com)

What’s next

The first round will resume on Friday morning, with 29 players still needing to complete their opening rounds.

The takeaway

This year's Genesis Invitational has featured challenging weather conditions, with a lengthy delay due to rain. However, the leaderboard is tightly bunched, with several top players in contention, setting up an exciting weekend of golf at the historic Riviera Country Club.