The records will show Rory McIlroy was joint runner-up to American Jacob Bridgeman at the close of the 2026 Genesis Invitational at Pacific Palisades.
Bridgeman, and despite leading by seven shots at one stage on the final day, held on in posting a one-over-par 72 to capture a maiden Tour victory by a shot at 18-under on the host Riviera course.
Rory McIlroy lets slip victory with a dismal putting display. Image Getty.
McIlroy bounced back from an indifferent opening nine holes to salvage some respectability in birdieing four of his closing eight holes in a closing 67 to share second place at 17-under with Kurt Kitayama wheo posted a closing seven-uner 64, and in a round that included eight birdies.
Though those watching coverage of the $20m tournament could be not criticised for turning their backs midway through the last day coverage of one of the Tour’s premier tournaments simply became boring to watch.
Aside from Kitayama and also Aussie Adam Scott no-one was really making any sort of a charge early or mid-round charge at Bridgeman.
If there was going to be such a charge most thought it would come from McIlroy and playing the final round in the company of the 26-year-old Bridgeman.
The World No. 2 ranked Northern Irishman was not only seeking the win the 100th hosting of the tournament for a first occasion and, if successful, McIlroy woulv become the equal 16th winningiest player on the PGA Tour with 30 Tour wins.
It was again an easy birdie ‘4’ at the par-5 first hole for McIlroy but the next eight or so holes it turned into a nightmare putting display with the Grand Slam champ missing chances of at least five holes, two of his birdie attempts that not even hit the hole.
Not going down without a fight!@McIlroyRory birdies from the bunker to get within 4 of solo leader Jacob Bridgeman.
CBS pic.twitter.com/nOJ9IH0g0M
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 22, 2026
It wasn’t till McIlroy finally lit-up the course with back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12, and at the 12th in brilliantly holing a greenside bunker shot, that got McIlroy back to within four shots of Bridgeman.
McIlroy got to within a shot of Bridgeman at 17-under with birdies at 17 and 18 but it was all too late as the American, and despite a bogey on 16 to fall back to 18-under, held onto par the closing two holes and deservedly earn the title.
McIlroy commented afterwards saying: “I just kept plugging away and trying to make something happen. I felt like I could have made something happen on the front nine if I holed a few putts but I didn’t.
“It’s hard, I think sometimes it’s harder when like Jacob has a big lead and I’m not doing anything to put pressure on him so he sees that — like I’ve had this before when I had a big lead and the guy that’s playing with me isn’t putting pressure on and then the guys in front are.
“Sort of he was making a lot of pars and then obviously at the end, you know, Kurt did what he did and Adam posted and I started to make a couple birdies. I thought Jacob did really well to hang on and play the way he did coming down the stretch.
“Yeah, I tried to make some things happen. I holed some putts on the back nine, which is nice, but I’ll rue basically all 18 holes yesterday and then the front nine today, like 27 holes where I failed to capitalize on the chances I give myself.
“Overall a really positive week. I feel like I’ve got a lot out of this West Coast Swing, last week at Pebble and then here. Have a week off to work on some things even though I feel like my game’s pretty much all there. Looking forward to Bay Hill and The Players”.
