LOS ANGELES — Jacob Bridgeman began Saturday aggressively at Riviera and sustained his intensity, ultimately achieving the day’s finest score, a 7-under 64, which granted him a six-stroke advantage over Rory McIlroy in the Genesis Invitational.
Bridgeman is now pursuing his inaugural PGA Tour championship, and with favorable weather conditions anticipated, he will have an opportunity to surpass the most enduring 72-hole record on the PGA Tour.
Bridgeman’s score stood at 19-under 194. Lanny Wadkins secured victory with a 20-under 264 in 1985.
The 26-year-old from Clemson certainly performed without the demeanor of someone unfamiliar with victory on the PGA Tour. He commenced his round with two birdies within three holes, then expertly placed a 7-wood to within 30 inches on the 262-yard fourth hole. Yet, his most impressive achievements were still to unfold.
Bridgeman held a two-stroke lead entering the latter half of the course, where he proceeded to achieve a sequence of birdie, eagle, birdie. He placed his 7-wood inside a foot to facilitate an eagle on the par-5 11th and then, targeting a right pin on the challenging 12th, sank a 12-foot birdie putt to extend his advantage to six shots.
From that point, the question became who would accompany him in the ultimate pairing.
McIlroy was wary on the greens, which proved swift and uneven later in the afternoon. He concluded his round of 69 with seven consecutive pars.
“I persisted,” McIlroy stated. “I wish I were a couple nearer the front. It appears I’ll be in the final group. Hopefully, I can exert some influence on Jacob tomorrow. I’ve afforded myself an opportunity, and that’s my sole desire.”
McIlroy is one of nine competitors on the PGA Tour who have secured victory when the 54-hole leader held a six-shot advantage. He mounted a comeback to defeat Scottie Scheffler in the Tour Championship in 2023 to claim the FedEx Cup.
Bridgeman, who failed to convert a six-foot birdie attempt on the concluding hole, had no opportunity to experience any pressure over the weekend due to his rapid commencement. He only erred on a single tee shot, on the par-4 eighth, when he drove into the heart of the barranca that partitions the fairways.
Otherwise, it was an exemplary performance.
“To be achieving this on this prominent venue at Riviera is an aspiration,” Bridgeman remarked.
No one else was especially near. Aaron Rai (66) trailed by eight strokes. Xander Schauffele had an opportunity to remain competitive until he missed four short putts – three for birdies – on greens so challenging that every short putt demanded such meticulous focus.
Marco Penge of England, who was tied for the lead after 36 holes with Bridgeman, recorded a 74 to drop ten strokes back.
Scottie Scheffler, who barely made the cut, concluded his play around the time the final pairing commenced their round. He shot a 66, his best score at Riviera, and was 14 strokes back. Scheffler’s sole objective was to try and prolong his run of top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour to 19.
Bridgeman has already secured a spot in the Masters by qualifying for the Tour Championship last year. He experienced two near successes last year and was a contender once more at Pebble Beach last week until he concluded with a bogey after an errant shot into the sand.