The initial day of play in Los Angeles, a rainy Thursday, was followed by significantly better weather during a lengthy Friday at Riviera Country Club. Thirty competitors were required to finish their opening round by 7 a.m., with the second round commencing 40 minutes thereafter, aiming to restore the tournament’s timeline before the weekend.
Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler, members of a prominent group for the week, were among those compelled to return early, each experiencing differing fortunes on the scoreboard. Under serene and yielding conditions early Friday, Schauffele adopted an aggressive strategy, achieving a 3-under 68. Following a brief 38-minute interval between his first and second rounds, he maintained his momentum in the afternoon with a 6-under 65, placing him within the top 5 at 9 under par as the weekend approached.
Meanwhile, Scheffler sought to recover from a challenging position he found himself in on Thursday, having been 5 over par after his initial 10 holes. He managed to reduce his deficit by two strokes during the morning to conclude his first round, yet required a powerful finish on Friday afternoon simply to avoid elimination. Despite being a premier event, the Genesis tournament includes a cut for players beyond the top 50 (and ties), as well as those more than ten strokes behind the leader. Scheffler secured a birdie on the par-5 17th to reach even par overall for the week, then executed a crucial 6-foot putt to salvage par on the 18th hole, ensuring his participation in the weekend play within the top 50.
This accomplishment lengthened his unparalleled streak of making the cut on Tour to 68 tournaments in a row, although it demanded considerably more effort than he would have preferred for a restricted-field competition.
In contrast to Scheffler and Schauffele, who completed 26 holes on Friday, Rory McIlroy benefited from a standard rest period following his impressive 5-under 66 on Thursday amidst difficult weather. He surpassed that performance on Friday, carding a 6-under 65, which positioned him just one stroke behind the front-runner as the weekend commenced.
McIlroy’s enhanced control over his ball, evident throughout the past year, was showcased during the initial two rounds, placing him third among competitors in strokes gained on approach shots. His skill in shaping shots and manipulating ball flight proved essential during the challenging conditions of his first round, also enabling a robust finish as the wind intensified on Friday afternoon.
McIlroy’s most remarkable attribute has been his unwavering consistency, particularly after an erratic week at Pebble Beach where he scored numerous birdies but also suffered many double bogeys (or worse).
“As I mentioned earlier in the week, there isn’t a vast ocean to aim for around this particular course, which is beneficial,” McIlroy commented after his second round. “For instance, I struck an errant tee shot on the 15th, approximately 40 yards off the left side of the fairway, but it wasn’t severely penalized. The style of golf and the course configuration are distinct this week. While I still made a few imprecise swings, the course design allows for a bit more leniency. Nonetheless, I’ve been striking the ball effectively, largely maintaining good distance control, and successfully converting several important putts from within eight feet for pars when necessary.”
His capacity to drive the ball a formidable 333 yards from the tee is certainly advantageous – as is his ranking of fourth in strokes gained putting after two rounds.
Given McIlroy’s openly declared career aspirations, a triumph at a renowned location such as Riviera Country Club—especially within a tournament hosted by Tiger Woods—would undeniably hold significant importance for the prospective Hall of Famer. McIlroy previously emphasized the personal value of his victory at Pebble Beach the preceding year, and securing another win at one of California’s iconic courses a year later would greatly enhance his career achievements.
McIlroy’s commendable performance during the initial two rounds positioned him in sole third place at 11 under par, only a single stroke behind the unexpected leading pair of Jacob Bridgeman and Marco Penge.
The leaders
1. Marco Penge, Jacob Bridgeman (-12)
Penge distinguished himself as the top performer on the DP World Tour last year, excluding Rory McIlroy, and despite a challenging start to his PGA Tour journey—including two missed cuts and a T64 last week—he is now demonstrating his considerable abilities at Riviera. Penge possesses extraordinary driving distance, currently leading the field in strokes gained off the tee, and has also displayed an exceptional touch with his putter. His iron play, for someone with his swing velocity, has been remarkably precise. A year ago, he secured multiple victories on the DP World Tour, but now faces the distinct pressure of playing in the final pairing during the weekend of a premier event.
He will be accompanied by Jacob Bridgeman, a player who has consistently achieved commendable results on the PGA Tour. Bridgeman has accumulated four top-20 finishes to commence his 2026 season and concluded his 2025 season by qualifying for the Tour Championship for the first time, a feat aided by two top-20 placements in the initial Playoff competitions. Bridgeman’s standout skill is his putting, and he has significantly outpaced his rivals on the greens this week, registering 7.4 strokes gained putting. The primary concern for Bridgeman is whether his long game will remain consistent over the weekend, generating sufficient chances for him to score—a challenge he faced last week at Pebble Beach, where he struggled to match the weekend scoring pace from a similar standing.
Other contenders
3. Rory McIlroy (-11)
T4. Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott (-9)
T6. Max Greyserman, Min Woo Lee (-8)
T8. Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Clark, Kurt Kitayama (-7)
T12. Max Homa and three others (-6)
T15. Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa and two others (-5)
McIlroy and Schauffele will be closely pursuing Penge and Bridgeman on Saturday, aiming to maintain a competitive stance for their initial PGA Tour triumphs, a situation that will severely challenge their composure.
Following a remarkably inconsistent performance at Pebble Beach, McIlroy appears to have much greater command over his golf ball at Riviera, exhibiting ball-striking prowess akin to his winning form at Pebble last year. Schauffele, conversely, seems to be growing in self-assurance with each passing day, exhibiting a noticeable comfort in shaping shots and adopting an aggressive approach amid the lenient conditions encountered on Friday. When performing with such conviction, he poses a considerable threat and aims to secure a victory for the first time since 2024.
Scott delivered the day’s best round, an 8-under 63—despite concluding with a bogey—and given his previous victory at Riviera, he must be regarded as a serious contender for the weekend, potentially becoming the second 45-year-old winner on the PGA Tour this season.
Several other players who have performed strongly early in 2026 are positioned further back. Tommy Fleetwood persistently compiles rounds in the 60s, advancing into the top 10 with a 66 on Friday. Min Woo Lee, who narrowly missed a playoff last week, is channeling that positive drive into his current performance. Matt Fitzpatrick has been consistently near the top of leaderboards since Phoenix and finds himself once again in contention as the weekend begins.
Additionally, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth, and last week’s champion, Collin Morikawa, are situated at 5 under par. Homa, a past victor at this venue, eagerly seeks a powerful conclusion on a course where he has historically excelled. Spieth consistently exhibits flashes of strong play, especially with his putting, fostering hope that a significant win may be on the horizon. Morikawa, having just ended his winless drought at Pebble Beach, is once again demonstrating robust golf, but both he and Spieth will require an exceptional Saturday, mirroring his performance a week prior, to genuinely enter contention.
Notable players to miss the cut
- Sam Burns (+1)
- Maverick McNealy (+1)
- Russell Henley (+2)
- Chris Gotterup (+3)
- Justin Rose (+3)
- Keegan Bradley (+3)
- Jason Day (+5)
Two of the five PGA Tour winners this season will not participate in weekend play at Riviera, as Gotterup and Rose encountered difficulties in Los Angeles. It is also unexpected to witness Henley, McNealy, and Burns fail to maintain their momentum and miss the cut, particularly after their strong starts to the year.
Updated 2026 Genesis Invitational odds, picks
- Rory McIlroy (+185)
- Jacob Bridgeman (+380)
- Marco Penge (5-1)
- Xander Schauffele (15/2)
- Adam Scott (13-1)
- Tommy Fleetwood (17-1)
- Min Woo Lee (20-1)
Considering McIlroy’s precise iron play and the anticipation that the course will gradually become firmer throughout the week, he rightfully stands as the top contender, and I do not foresee his odds diminishing after Saturday’s third round. I believe Schauffele offers good value at 15/2 given his excellent ball-striking, and among the players positioned further down, Lee’s current high confidence indicates he has the potential to post a low score and emerge as a serious challenger on Sunday.
