Rain Delay and Late Surge: Genesis Invitational First Round Resumes with McIlroy Tied for Lead
The Genesis Invitational resumed play after a lengthy weather delay, and the opening round produced a late leaderboard shakeup as Rory McIlroy and Jacob Bridgeman signed for matching 5-under rounds.
Genesis Invitational: play restarts after three-hour suspension
Heavy rain forced a three-hour suspension of play early Thursday, with the first round getting back under way just after 4 p. m. ET. When action resumed, a compressed window of daylight and late tee times set the stage for several notable swings on the Riviera course.
Rory McIlroy carded a 5-under 66 in the opening round and was tied for the lead when he signed his scorecard just after 8 p. m. ET. McIlroy went out in 31 on the front nine, made birdies early and added a 5-under finish despite a lone bogey at the par-3 16th.
Jacob Bridgeman matched McIlroy with a 5-under 66, signing just after 7: 30 p. m. ET. Bridgeman opened with an eagle at the first, climbed back from a double bogey at No. 4 and surged on the back nine with multiple birdies to share the top spot. Bridgeman’s late back-nine run included birdies at Nos. 16 and 17 that put him level with McIlroy.
Not every marquee name had a clean start. Scottie Scheffler struggled early, carding a 4-over 39 on the front nine and sitting near the bottom of the leaderboard. As of late Thursday evening, Scheffler was tied for 69th in the 72-player field, nine shots back of the leaders. Keegan Bradley occupied the low end of the board at 5 over.
Broadcast plans and event context for the Genesis Invitational
Fans can catch coverage beginning at 12: 30 p. m. ET, with first-round and second-round windows listed for that start time. Coverage will include multiple feeds such as main, featured holes and featured groups, and streaming access is available through the event’s designated streaming apps and services. First-round coverage was also made available on an additional streaming platform for viewers seeking alternate options.
The tournament returns to its traditional Riviera venue this week after a relocation last year, and a limited field of 72 players is competing for a $20 million purse, with the winner slated to take home $4 million. Past winners in recent years are among those on the property, and the event follows a dramatic win at the prior tournament on the season.
Late-night leaderboard takeaways and what to watch next
Play resumed in the afternoon and stretched into the evening, producing a leaderboard that will demand attention as the tournament progresses. McIlroy’s 5-under opening and Bridgeman’s comeback round are the headline developments from the resumed first round. Other storyline elements include an embedded lie affecting Adam Scott’s chance at a birdie on a par-3 and the uneven starts for some top-ranked players who will need to rally over the weekend.
The compressed schedule created by the weather delay means many players finished late, and the leaderboard remained fluid well into the evening. With the Genesis Invitational offering a signature purse and a small, elite field, Thursday’s late swings set up a tense second round as contenders look to assert themselves after a stop-start opening day.
Expect coverage to continue through the weekend with the formats and feeds already in place for viewers. For now, McIlroy and Bridgeman sit atop the leaderboard following a first round that resumed after a three-hour suspension and delivered a dramatic close to day one.
