Genesis Invitational 2026: Rain delay at Riviera leaves Rai in front, Scheffler struggling
The genesis invitational 2026 saw a weather-affected opening day at Riviera Country Club that left the leaderboard in flux and the weekend picture uncertain. Heavy rain forced a nearly three-hour delay and darkness halted play with Aaron Rai 6-under through 16 holes; play is scheduled to resume at 10: 00 a. m. ET on Friday.
Genesis Invitational 2026 tee times
Play was suspended late in the day after the rain delay shortened daylight hours. The resumption at 10: 00 a. m. ET on Friday will finish incomplete first rounds and start second rounds for groups already complete. Second-round coverage windows begin at 4: 00 p. m. ET for the afternoon block on both Thursday and Friday; weekend telecasts start in the early afternoon, with blocks beginning at 1: 00 p. m. ET before switching to a later window at 3: 00 p. m. ET on Feb. 21–22. Featured-group and hole streaming options are available through subscription streaming services for viewers who prefer dedicated coverage of individual pairings and holes.
Cut line and Scheffler
The cut line at this limited-field Signature Event has been volatile due to interrupted play. As of 6: 45 p. m. ET one projection had the cut at even par, after rising through the afternoon from an earlier projection of 4 over. Further projections estimate the cut could remain at even or rise to 1 over by the end of Round 2. With 72 golfers entered and 50 guaranteed to make the cut, ties and the rule allowing players within 10 strokes of the lead to advance mean the exact number reaching the weekend can change.
Scottie Scheffler’s opening round has been troubled: he was 5 over through 10 holes when play was stopped. If the current projected cut holds at even par, players at even or better would advance, leaving Scheffler behind that mark at the suspension. Scheffler’s season form includes multiple top finishes and a recent victory earlier in the campaign, but his early score at Riviera puts pressure on his second-round performance. It is unclear whether all players will finish Round 2 by the end of play Friday, which could affect final cut projections.
Purse, payouts and outlook
The tournament carries a $20 million purse, with the winner scheduled to receive $4 million. The top payouts for top finishers are substantial and scale quickly down the leaderboard, underscoring the financial stakes as the week progresses.
| Finish | Payout (USD, approx. ) |
|---|---|
| 1st | $4, 000, 000 |
| 2nd | $2, 400, 000 |
| 3rd | $1, 400, 000 |
| 4th | $1, 000, 000 |
| 5th | $840, 000 |
On the course, Aaron Rai led late in the suspended first round at 6-under through 16 holes, with Rory McIlroy and Jacob Bridgeman sharing second at 5-under after 66s. Collin Morikawa posted a 3-under 68, while defending champion Ludvig Åberg carded a 72. The mixed leaderboard and disrupted schedule mean momentum heading into Friday will be crucial; if leaders can maintain their positions when play resumes at 10: 00 a. m. ET, contenders will need low scores quickly to improve their weekend odds.
Looking ahead, the West Coast swing concludes here and the tour calendar moves eastward after this event as players prepare for the spring stretch. With a high purse and a compressed field, standings and payoffs will crystallize quickly once interrupted play is completed and Round 2 concludes.
