Rain Halts Play, Then Resumes as Rory McIlroy Leads at Genesis Invitational; Community Finds Hope After Palisades Fire
The Genesis Invitational resumed just after 4 p. m. ET Thursday after a nearly three-hour suspension caused by heavy rain and water pooling on the greens, with Rory McIlroy moving into the lead as the community around Riviera Country Club welcomed the tournament’s return following last year’s Palisades Fire.
Genesis Invitational resumes after three-hour weather suspension
First-round action at the Genesis Invitational had been suspended at 1: 13 p. m. ET when heavy rain and standing water made the putting surfaces unplayable. Play restarted just after 4 p. m. ET, creating a compressed afternoon and evening for players and organizers. Sunset at Riviera was listed as 5: 41 p. m. local time (8: 41 p. m. ET), and tournament operations noted that many competitors would need to finish opening rounds the following morning.
Rory McIlroy found immediate traction after the restart. He rolled in a birdie at the par-4 eighth to reach 4 under for the day and held the solo lead as the afternoon progressed. Earlier in the round McIlroy had birdied the fourth to climb to 3 under and at one point had tied Akshay Bhatia for the lead. As play continued, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler teed off just after 5: 15 p. m. ET and it was expected that he would complete his opening round on Friday morning due to the weather delay. Collin Morikawa, coming off a win the previous week, was also near the top of the leaderboard, sharing the chase behind McIlroy.
The suspension left 33 golfers in 11 threesomes still needing to start their first rounds when play stopped earlier in the day. Some late groups originally scheduled to begin in the early afternoon—giving examples from the tee sheet—were pushed back by the lengthy interruption, and preferred lies were put into effect as conditions settled and the course dried out.
Community response: relief, school grants and renewed tradition
The tournament’s return to Riviera Country Club came with heightened community significance after the Palisades Fire destroyed large swaths of the area more than a year ago. Local residents and fire victims expressed that the presence of the event offered a glimmer of hope and a sense that the neighborhood is rebuilding. One Palisades Fire victim said that hosting events again signals the community is coming back and getting stronger.
On the relief front, the California Rises initiative backed by the PGA Tour and Genesis has donated $9 million to Southern California wildfire-relief causes, including first responders. A group of Palisades Charter Elementary School students were given a behind-the-scenes experience at Riviera and the school received a $10, 000 grant; the school had been damaged in the wildfire. Organizers and tournament leadership emphasized tradition and resilience, framing this week as an opportunity to support recovery efforts while welcoming the world’s best players back to the community.
Prominent figures associated with the event underscored the return’s emotional importance and intent to help with rebuilding. Tournament hosts and partners reiterated that the week is intended not only as a competitive stop on the tour but as a chance to provide continued support for neighbors still coping with the wildfire’s aftermath.
The combination of on-course drama—marked by a lengthy weather interruption and a shifting leaderboard with McIlroy in front—and off-course community relief efforts gave the Genesis Invitational a dual narrative on Thursday: a test of patience and play on the greens, and a tangible sign of recovery and solidarity for the Palisades neighborhood.
