rory mcilroy confident ahead of Genesis Invitational, will head to Augusta after Riviera tune-up
Rory McIlroy arrives at the Genesis Invitational feeling encouraged about his game and intent on sharpening his competitive edge ahead of a scheduled return to Augusta next week. The world No. 2 will tee off on Thursday (ET) in a marquee grouping and has been vocal about course changes at Riviera as he chases momentum before defending his Masters title in April.
High-profile pairing and Riviera changes set the scene
McIlroy will start the week in a challenging early grouping with Tommy Fleetwood and recent AT& T Pebble Beach winner Collin Morikawa, a draw that promises immediate testing conditions at Riviera. Morikawa arrives off a victory last Sunday, and McIlroy said he is encouraged by how he finished at Pebble Beach — a final-round 64 that left him in a tie for 14th, five shots behind Morikawa — even if costly big numbers earlier in the week kept him out of contention.
Practice rounds on Wednesday included walk-throughs of a notably altered Riviera layout. The par‑three fourth has been lengthened from 237 yards to 273 yards, a change McIlroy criticized as "horrible, " noting the altered challenge mainly forces players to hit a longer club rather than redesign how the hole plays. He argued that if the hole is going to play at the new distance it needs different apron and surface treatments to allow more run-on shots, otherwise in certain conditions long approaches could roll off toward the fifth tee box.
Despite his reservations about that particular tweak, McIlroy acknowledged Riviera is more forgiving than some venues and sees the week as an opportunity to build competitive sharpness rather than chase a feel-good round. He practised on the course and emphasized that the quality of his ball‑striking and ability to get the ball close and convert putts gives him confidence heading into the Signature Event.
Augusta return looms as part of Masters defence
After Riviera, McIlroy plans a brief trip to Augusta next week (ET) to reacquaint himself with the course where he will defend the Green Jacket in April. He has a round scheduled with his father, Gerry, and the club chairman, a chance to see the changes at the host venue and to spend time on the course in a less formal setting than competition.
McIlroy described a recent visit to the champions locker room as nostalgic and noted a modest alteration at Augusta’s 17th — the plate there has been moved back 10 yards to lengthen the hole — but otherwise found the course largely familiar. That visit gave him a reminder of the perks and responsibilities that come with being a reigning champion, and he said the trip up next week will be used to settle any lingering doubts after a shaky defence of his Pebble Beach title.
Form, frustration and what to expect
McIlroy has been transparent about needing to "shake a bit of rust off" early in the season. Last week’s scoreline at Pebble Beach included a triple and three double‑bogeys that derailed a week that otherwise featured plenty of solid golf. He stressed he learned a lot from the experience and that the positives — consistent ball‑striking, close approaches and made putts — outweigh the costly mistakes.
For this week, the immediate objectives are clear: take advantage of a forgiving Riviera to rebuild confidence, test himself directly against Morikawa and Fleetwood in competition, and leave the West Coast swing ready for a purposeful visit to Augusta. If McIlroy’s recent final-round form is any guide, he will be pushing for a serious run while keeping an eye on the bigger prize in April.
