On Thursday at the Genesis Invitational, Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy competed under difficult conditions at the Riviera Country Club, which was heavily impacted by continuous rain. McIlroy completed his round with a five-under-par 66, while Morikawa finished slightly behind at three-under-par 68. The persistent downpour over the past two days had softened the course considerably, complicating play for all competitors.
Morikawa reflected on the day’s play, which was marked by unusually receptive and soft greens that drastically affected the players’ ability to control their approach shots.
Reasons Behind Morikawa’s Sympathy for McIlroy During Their Round
Following the first round, Morikawa spoke at Pacific Palisades about the extreme difficulty posed by Riviera’s conditions. He expressed genuine admiration for how McIlroy performed despite the challenges, also explaining why he felt sympathy for his playing partner.
“Yeah, I honestly don’t know how they got it to this,“ Morikawa admitted, visibly surprised by the state of the greens.
“Like I’ve never seen greens like this. I mean, you could stop any club from anyplace on, you know, from the rough, flyer lies.”
Morikawa described hitting several shots from ‘flyer lies’—where the ball rests lightly on the grass or debris—and noted that under normal circumstances, these shots would be worrying, but with the course so soft, it turned into more of a hopeful gamble.
“I think I had two or three shots today, flyers out of the first cut and rough and like I’m not worried about missing the green at all. It’s just purely hit and hope.”
He referenced one of McIlroy’s notable moments, saying,
“And then, I mean, you saw Rory’s shot on 18, like it’s just unfair’s not the right word, you just have to really take those 30-footers and go out and make some birdies somewhere else.”
The conditions made precision and consistent scoring a real challenge.
Impact of Course Softness on Players’ Strategies and Performance
The Riviera greens’ softness affected many aspects of play, including shots from the rough where players could spin the ball back towards the hole using long irons or even fairway woods. However, this softness became more of a liability than an advantage.
Adding to the difficulty, the course was unusually fast in certain respects, and wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 25 mph complicated approach shot control. Such factors made Riviera one of the toughest venues on Thursday despite conditions that might have ordinarily benefited skillful players.
Prospects for the Remainder of the Genesis Invitational Under Improved Weather
Despite the difficult opening day, both McIlroy and Morikawa expressed satisfaction with their initial rounds. They, along with other competitors, are hopeful that the forecasted calm weather and sunshine will dry out the greens over the next three days, potentially enabling more stable conditions and better scoring opportunities.
The weather change could help restore more predictable playing surfaces, making it easier for players to manage their shots and showcase their skills. A dryer course would also enhance the viewing experience, as tricky conditions like golf balls stopping abruptly on soft greens tend to detract from the game’s visual appeal on television.
Overall, Morikawa’s comments highlight the unusual and trying circumstances faced at the Genesis Invitational’s first round and set the stage for an intriguing remainder of the tournament as the greens firm up and players adjust strategy.
