Three Takeaways from the 2026 Genesis Invitational

1. It is always great theater to watch someone try to capture their first professional win, and Jacob Bridgeman’s back nine at the Genesis Invitational was no different.

One of the things I love about sports is that, regardless of how good you are, every time you move up to the next level, you have to wrestle with a new stage of nerves. Bridgeman — like pretty much everyone who reaches this level of professional golf — has spent most of his life being great at the sport. In high school, he won the state championship in South Carolina three times (including by nine shots as a senior). He became an All-American at Clemson, finished second in PGA Tour U, and earned his PGA Tour card by playing well on the Korn Ferry Tour. He made it to the Tour Championship last year and fought his way into contention a few times.

Even though he hadn’t yet won, every step felt like confirmation of what he already knew: I am really good at this. That still didn’t prepare him for how he felt on the final few holes at the Genesis, trying to close out his first victory. Even though Bridgeman began the day with a preposterous six-shot lead, he looked (and felt) like he wanted to throw up on the final two holes when that gap shrank to a single stroke.

“I couldn't even feel my hands on the last couple greens, I just hit the putt hoping it would get somewhere near the hole,” Bridgeman said.

It didn’t help that, on the final hole, Rory McIlroy poured in a 30-foot birdie putt from the back of the green to pull within a stroke. McIlroy, who made almost no putts of consequence throughout the final round, was suddenly tied at 17 under with Kurt Kitayama. Bridgeman now needed a par to avoid a playoff, and he left his birdie putt woefully short.

“I made it about as hard as I could at the end,” he said.

Instead of collapsing, Bridgeman poured his five-footer in the middle of the cup, and about two minutes later, he found himself shaking hands with his childhood idol, Tiger Woods. Things got even more surreal when Woods joked with Bridgeman that he now had one up on him — a reference to the fact that Woods never won at Riviera Country Club.

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It was a nice reminder that, despite the PGA Tour’s myriad flaws, when young players win tournaments on the Tour’s best courses, it’s actually healthy for the depth of the game. Bridgeman has always been a good putter, but this week he gained nearly six shots on approach. It was the culmination of two years of hard work on his golf swing with his coach, Scott Hamilton, learning to hit the ball higher and with more spin. He said he’s also consistently delivering the same loft with his irons for the first time.

“I've never led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach ever,” Bridgeman said. “I've probably never been close, I don't know. I've done putting before, I'm always good at that, but I've never come close with approach. That is hats off to Scott because he has done some amazing things for me.”

Bridgeman’s closest friend on Tour, Chris Gotterup, already has two wins this season. It’s possible they might be a pair of emerging stars within the game. Time will tell. But whatever happens going forward, it’s been fun watching them learn how to win big events. It’s the same process Scottie Scheffler had to learn a few years ago when he kept making gradual progress up the ladder.

“After the Waste Management we were sitting on the green watching our buddy [Gotterup] win and he said, ‘I couldn't feel my hands.’” Bridgeman said. “I thought he was kind of crazy until I got to this moment and then I was like, yep, I understand what you're talking about now, Chris. I had no idea what to do.”

2. Riviera Country Club remains one of the best courses for testing pros. It would be even better if it were showcased in the fall.

There is a good chance this is the last time the Genesis will be held in February. All week, there was talk (started by Woods, the tournament host) that it would probably be in the PGA Tour’s best interest to have Riviera move back in the schedule, perhaps as part of the FedEx Cup playoffs. As good as George Thomas’ design is, it’s hard not to fantasize about how fun it would be in dry weather.

“I guess there's more chance of it being firm and fast,” said Adam Scott, who shot 63 on Sunday to finish fourth. “I think it would be a good thing. This tournament at any time of year is going to be great. It's got the history and it's got the venue. As long as we're coming back here anytime, it will be good.”

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3. Scottie Scheffler is (at times) human.

Scheffler’s streak of finishing in the top 10 finally ended at 18. He shot 66-65 on the weekend, but could only muster a T-12 after barely making the cut on Friday. It’s the longest streak of consecutive top 10s since Billy Casper recorded 17 in a row in 1965. He would have extended it with one more rotation of the golf ball on Sunday. He left a birdie putt an inch short that was tracking right in the center.

I spent most of my week at Riviera shadowing him for a future story, and it was a delight to watch him think his way around the course, even on a rare off week.

“I mean I've never been one to quit,” Scheffler said. “I'd feel pretty silly to quit in a PGA Tour event. Overall, being out here and competing, that's what I love to do.”