Scottie Scheffler’s incredible top-10 streak ends at The Genesis Invitational; scottie falls just short
scottie Scheffler’s remarkable run of finishes came to a halt at The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club when his late surge left him just outside the top 10. Scheffler shot a final-round 6-under 65 and finished tied for 12th after a 21-foot putt on the 18th stopped an inch in front of the hole.
Scottie at Riviera Country Club
Scheffler described the week simply: “This place and I have like a weird relationship, ” and added, “I feel like I can play so well out here and I just haven't yet. ” The George C. Thomas design in Pacific Palisades has produced winners such as Hogan, Snead, Watson, Nelson, Mickelson, Couples, Faldo, Els and Adam Scott, but has also frustrated greats: Jack Nicklaus had two runner-up finishes and never won, and Tiger Woods likewise has struggled to win there.
Thursday collapse and early Friday recovery
The damage began in the first round. Scheffler endured the worst start of his career, going 5-over through 10 holes when play was called for the day on Thursday, at one point languishing in last place. He made a few birdies in the wee hours of Friday to finish 3 over in his first 18 holes. Conditions were difficult in the afternoon on Thursday as the wind kicked up and Poa annua greens got bumpier, and Scheffler credited morning tee times for his improvement.
Weekend charge and near miss
Scheffler shot 3-under 68 in the second round and a 66 on Saturday. His final round began even-par through seven holes before he rattled off six birdies in his last 12 holes, including a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 13, an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 17, and a 184-yard approach from a bunker to 11 feet to birdie No. 15. Needing a birdie on 18 to reach the top 10, his 21-foot putt stopped an inch short of the hole. He made a valiant push up the leaderboard on Sunday but ultimately finished just outside the top 10, in a tie for 12th, falling at least one shot short of extending his streak.
Streaks and season form
The result snapped Scheffler’s run of 18 straight top-10 finishes, the longest streak by any golfer in the modern era, and ended a run of eight straight top-four finishes. He arrived at Riviera riding that streak and with a checkered history at the venue: he missed the match-play cut at the 2017 U. S. Amateur and missed the cut as an amateur at the Genesis Open in 2018, and had entered the week with four top-20s as a pro at Riviera but had never finished within six shots of the lead.
Tees, greens and mindset
Scheffler said tee times mattered: “Overall, being out here and competing, that's what I love to do and, like I said, got to go out early yesterday on some fresh greens, get a little bit less wind, ” and, “It's easier playing in the morning than it is late in the day. Took advantage of it. Then I had another solid day today. ” On resilience he added, “I've never been one to quit, so it's not really – I mean, I'd feel pretty silly to quit in a PGA TOUR event. ”
Context and comparisons
Riviera’s quirks have long confounded top players. One commentator said, “It makes absolutely no sense, ” about Tiger Woods’ inability to win there, and Adam Scott remarked it was “a little bit inexplicable. ” Woods has made 15 starts at Riviera, including his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old amateur in 1992, has made 10 cuts and just three top 10s, including a runner-up finish to Ernie Els in 1999. Rory McIlroy’s T2 on Sunday was his best finish in Pacific Palisades. The venue has hosted U. S. Opens and PGA Championships, and since 1973 it has been home to the PGA Tour’s LA Open, now the Genesis Invitational.
Form patch and career notes
Commentators have noted Scheffler’s slow starts: he opened his last three tournaments with rounds of 73, 72 and 74, and in his last three starts he was 10, 10 and 11 off the pace after 10 holes. At one stage he was 12 shots behind on Friday. He also sustained a long run of made cuts: a fist-pumped seven-footer on the 36th hole extended his streak to a 68th successive cut — he has not missed a weekend since the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship. An earlier delayed start to a season followed a Christmas dinner incident, and one writer wondered how the early part of 2025 might have differed had he been fully fit. Another assessment in the week offered a blunt appraisal: “Scheffler is not a compelling golfer or personality. At least not in front of a camera. ” Still, others note that his presence on the leaderboard “brings eyeballs, it creates drama. ”
Next events lined up
Scheffler is expected to tee up next in two weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, followed immediately by THE PLAYERS Championship. He has won both events twice, and there is expectation he could begin another lengthy streak.
scottie Scheffler leaves Riviera having salvaged a weekend after a night suspension, fired a late charge and seen an 18-event top-10 streak come to an end by the narrowest of margins.
