Rory McIlroy may still be in contention at the Genesis Invitational, but his body language and post-round comments revealed clear frustration after American pro Jacob Bridgeman delivered a stunning back-nine charge at Riviera Country Club.
McIlroy entered the penultimate round in strong position, having opened with rounds of 66 and 65 and committing just one bogey through 36 holes. However, while he maintained steady ball-striking, the putter betrayed him on Riviera’s tricky Poa annua greens.
Yeah, a little frustrated, but at the same time, I was hitting good shots, and I just felt like every putt I left myself was more of a defensive putt rather than something you could have a go at. All of a sudden, you get one that you think you can have a bit of a run at, and then you hit it a little bit too hard. I found the greens really, really difficult today.
Meanwhile, Bridgeman flipped the tournament on its head. Ranked 52nd in the world, he caught fire between holes 10 and 12 with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch, turning a narrow two-shot edge into a commanding lead. He later added another birdie at the par-5 17th to post a brilliant 7-under 64, finishing six shots clear of McIlroy heading into Sunday.
McIlroy, in contrast, managed only one birdie on the back nine, offset by a bogey at the 10th. Despite the gap, he remains determined.
“I wish I were a few shots closer to Jacob, but it looks like I’ll be in the final group. At least I’ll be able to keep an eye on him and maybe get off to a fast start and put a little bit of pressure on him,” the Northern Irish star said.
Course changes and shot selection add to the tension to Mcllroy
The putting surfaces have not been McIlroy’s only source of irritation this week. Ahead of the $20 million event, Riviera’s par-3 fourth hole was lengthened significantly, a modification McIlroy openly criticized.
He labeled the extension “a horrible change,” arguing that adding yardage without altering the green’s apron fails to improve the hole’s strategic design.
Adding to the debate, McIlroy’s decision-making on the 201-yard sixth hole sparked conversation among fellow pros. Faced with a bunker between his ball and the flag while sitting on the green roughly 90 feet away, he opted to chip over the sand rather than putt around it – a bold, high-skill move.
Tour player Michael Kim questioned the difficulty of that approach on social media, suggesting chipping from a tightly mown green is less demanding than from thicker turf. Still, the statistics support McIlroy’s confidence. With a scrambling percentage hovering around 58% this season, the shot fell well within his skill set.
For Bridgeman, the moment represents an opportunity for a breakthrough victory. He has experience playing alongside McIlroy and appears unfazed.
I think if it was my first time [with McIlroy], maybe it would be a little unsettling, but now I’m not worried about it.
As Sunday approaches, the storyline is clear: one player chasing redemption, the other chasing his first win. If McIlroy channels his frustration into execution, Riviera could still deliver a dramatic finish.
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