PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Aaron Rai of England held a one-shot advantage at the Genesis Invitational on Thursday after play was suspended due to rain and darkness at Riviera Country Club. Rai finished 16 holes at 6 under par and is set to resume his round early Friday morning at 7 a.m. local time, aiming to extend his early lead amidst challenging weather conditions.
Weather Interruptions Affect Opening Rounds and Player Momentum
Heavy rain in the morning delayed the start of the tournament by three hours, forcing many competitors to pause their first rounds. Throughout the day, strong winds further complicated play, causing interruptions and testing competitors’ focus and strategy at the celebrated Los Angeles-area event.
McIlroy and Bridgeman Vie for Position as Fox Trails Closely Behind
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy carded a 5-under-par 66 and shares second place with Jacob Bridgeman, while Ryan Fox from New Zealand stands alone in fourth place at 4 under. McIlroy, who has won 29 times on the PGA Tour, began his round impressively with a 3-under start through four holes before the rain forced a halt. He then made a birdie on the 11th hole, a bogey on the 16th, and rebounded with another birdie on the 17th.
“I’ve started to just really enjoy this style of golf,”
McIlroy said about managing the wet, windy, and cool conditions.
If you had asked me 10 years ago, I didn’t enjoy these conditions, but it’s been a shift in mindset and maybe just a continuation of trying to build upon the skill set that I have. Then when it does get to conditions like this, I’m a lot more prepared.”
— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer
Bridgeman, now in his third PGA Tour season without a victory, experienced a mixed start with an eagle on the first hole followed by a double bogey on the fourth. However, he rallied by going 5 under over a 10-hole stretch starting on the eighth hole.
“I’ve never really had any success on the West Coast in my career, but I think I’m starting to understand more of how to play out here and be a little more confident with it,”
Bridgeman explained.
We never played out here in college, I never played in junior golf out here. So really my (first time) coming out for the West Coast was as a pro. I’m starting to get a little more comfortable.”
— Jacob Bridgeman, PGA Tour Player
Local Favorite Morikawa Shares Early Success
Collin Morikawa, a native of the Los Angeles area and the recent Pebble Beach winner, found himself in a seven-way tie for fifth place at 3 under par. Morikawa expressed optimism about the conditions shifting over the next days and how the course setup might influence scoring opportunities.
“Nice to get off to a good start and kind of be around the lead,”
Morikawa said.
“This course is going to play very different, I think, the next three days, not quite with the softness and speed of the greens but just score-ability with the wind being down.”
Struggles and Standings of Other Notable Competitors
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler faced difficulties once again, recording a score of 5 over par through 10 holes, marking his third consecutive week with a subpar start. Defending champion Ludvig Aberg of Sweden was tied for 44th place at 1 over par, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who won the tournament when it was last held at Riviera in 2024, stood tied for 12th at 2 under.
This year’s Genesis Invitational returned to Riviera Country Club after relocating to Torrey Pines in San Diego last year, due to a devastating wildfire in Pacific Palisades in January 2025. The move back signifies a hopeful step toward normalcy for the event and its participants.
Impact of Early Leader and Conditions on Tournament Outlook
Aaron Rai’s position atop the leaderboard entering Friday could prove pivotal if he capitalizes on the opportunity to complete his round with a strong finish. The challenging weather tests players’ adaptability, and those who adjust quickly may gain an edge as the tournament progresses. With notable names like McIlroy, Bridgeman, Morikawa, and Matsuyama close behind, the Genesis Invitational remains a highly competitive event closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
