Jacob Bridgeman Wins 2026 Genesis Invitational: Clemson Product Claims First PGA Tour Title, Holds Off Rory McIlroy at Riviera Country Club
In one of the most dominant wire-to-wire performances of the 2026 PGA Tour season, 26-year-old Jacob Bridgeman claimed his first career PGA Tour victory at the historic 100th playing of the Genesis Invitational, holding off a late charge from Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama by one stroke at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The South Carolina native pocketed a life-changing $4 million winner's check from the tournament's $20 million purse.
2026 Genesis Invitational Final Leaderboard
| Pos. | Player | Score | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Bridgeman | -20 | $4,000,000 |
| T2 | Rory McIlroy | -19 | $1,800,000 |
| T2 | Kurt Kitayama | -19 | $1,800,000 |
| T7 | Xander Schauffele | -13 | $602,200 |
| T7 | Collin Morikawa | -13 | $602,200 |
| T7 | Cameron Young | -13 | $602,200 |
| T7 | Tommy Fleetwood | -13 | $602,200 |
| T7 | Ryan Fox | -13 | $602,200 |
| T12 | Scottie Scheffler | -12 | $415,000 |
| T16 | Marco Penge | -11 | $319,000 |
Who Is Jacob Bridgeman? The Clemson Product Who Conquered Riviera
In a field full of golf's biggest stars, 26-year-old Jacob Bridgeman stood alone at the Genesis Invitational. The Clemson product tore up Riviera Country Club over the first three days and then held on Sunday to beat Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama by one to claim his first career PGA Tour victory.
Bridgeman is competing to become the very first first-time winner of the PGA Tour season, the 13th first-time winner at this event, and the first since James Hahn in 2015. He is also now a first-time winner at Riviera in his very first appearance at the course. A week before the Genesis, Bridgeman had gone viral for icing Collin Morikawa on the final hole of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Saturday Dominance: The Round That Won the Tournament
Bridgeman played in the final group on Saturday and posted the lowest score of the day with a 7-under 64. He was tied for the lead when he started and six clear of Rory McIlroy when he finished. "It was fun and easy, kind of the best that the golf world ever gets," Bridgeman said. "My swing felt nice and it was fun out there."
The highlight of his Saturday came on the par-5 11th, where Bridgeman hit a 7-wood from 259 yards that narrowly cleared a ridge for a tap-in eagle. He reached 19-under 194, tying the tournament record for the lowest 54-hole total.
Marco Penge: The Riviera Story That Nearly Was
Marco Penge and Bridgeman had superb finishes on Friday, each shooting a 7-under 64 to tie for the lead. Penge, the leading player from the DP World Tour to earn a PGA Tour card this season, pulled away with five birdies over his final seven holes. More remarkable than his score was keeping his mind on golf — his wife was moving into their new home in Florida and expecting their second child the following week.
Penge, who shared the 36-hole lead with Bridgeman, shot a 74 in the third round to fall 10 behind and ultimately finished tied for 16th, earning $319,000.
McIlroy's Riviera Heartbreak Continues
The 36-year-old McIlroy entered Sunday eyeing his 30th PGA Tour victory. A win at Riviera would have been a landmark — a course where Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus never won. Bridgeman arrived on Sunday with a six-shot lead and knew he couldn't back up at all. "I know he's going to play well tomorrow. I know that I can't back up at all," Bridgeman had said the night before.
The 2026 Genesis Invitational also celebrated its historic 100th playing, with tournament host Tiger Woods — recovering from back surgery — attending and welcoming the elite field to Riviera Country Club.
