rory mcilroy confident ahead of Genesis Invitational bid at Riviera
Rory McIlroy arrives at the Genesis Invitational quietly buoyant after a solid finish at Pebble Beach, but he remains focused on fine‑tuning his game ahead of a busy run toward the Masters. The world number two will begin his week at Riviera Country Club with a high‑profile tee shot group and a clear plan: shake off the early‑season rust and build momentum.
Strong finish in California lifts prospects
McIlroy closed last week with an impressive 64, recovering from a wobble that left him five shots adrift of the winner and in a tie for 14th overall. That late surge has given him confidence heading into Riviera, where he will start Thursday (ET) alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Collin Morikawa, the recent Pebble Beach champion.
“I learnt a lot about my game last week, ” McIlroy said as he prepared on the practice tee. He highlighted that while a few very costly holes undid some otherwise strong play, the positive signs — finding fairways, hitting close and converting putts — point to more good weeks ahead. With the Masters defence looming in April, the Northern Irishman is using the Riviera test as an opportunity to sharpen competitive instincts rather than chase a headline result.
Course changes draw criticism, but focus remains on performance
Practice rounds on Wednesday revealed one notable talking point: a significant extension to the par‑three fourth. The hole has been lengthened from 237 yards to 273 yards, a change McIlroy described as ill conceived. He argued the adjustment simply forces players to hit a longer club without delivering the intended strategic alteration, and warned that the surface around the green will influence how the hole plays.
“Fifteen percent of the field hit the green when it played 230, ” McIlroy said. “If you want it to be a 275 par‑three you have to change the apron leading up on to the green. It can’t be the same grass if you expect people to run it on. ” His critique reflects a broader player concern that tweaks to yardage without complementary changes to green surrounds or turf type can produce awkward, unintended results.
Despite his reservations about the layout tweak, McIlroy stressed that Riviera is a more forgiving test than some venues and that suits his current agenda: find rhythm, keep mistakes to a minimum and build toward April. He noted his best finish at this event came four years ago when he tied for 10th, and that he sees plenty of reasons to expect a productive week.
Looking ahead: a brief trip to Augusta before title defence
Beyond Riviera, McIlroy has plans to return to Augusta next week for an informal round that will give him a first close look at the course as a defending champion. He described previous visits that involved promotional work and noted the novelty of staying on site without the usual member assistance. Small adjustments at Augusta have caught his eye too; he mentioned a minor move of 10 yards back on one of the holes, but said the course largely remains the same.
For now, McIlroy’s priorities are pragmatic. He is methodically shaking off the early‑season cobwebs, learning from recent missteps and using the Riviera test to regain competitive sharpness. With a Major defence on the horizon, the emphasis is on consistency and controlled aggression — a formula he hopes will carry him through the Signature Event and into a confident run at the Green Jacket.
