What Is The Largest Final Round Comeback In Genesis Invitational History?

The 18th hole at Riviera Country Club — What is the biggest comeback at the Genesis Invitational?

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With one round to play of the 2026 Genesis Invitational, leader Jacob Bridgeman had put a chasm between him and his closest rival Rory McIlroy.

Bridgeman’s third round blew the rest of the field away, with seven birdies and an eagle to leave the American 19-under for the tournament at Riviera Country Club.

That left McIlroy facing the daunting prospect of coming back from six behind for just the third time in his PGA Tour career if he was to win the title.

If McIlroy needed any recent proof that such a comeback could be completed at the Genesis Invitational, he’d only have to go back two years, when Hideki Matsuyama carded a final round of 62 to win the title for the first time, having begun the day six behind leader Patrick Cantlay.

Hideki Matsuyama with the Genesis Invitational trophy — Hideki Matsuyama came back from six behind to win in 2024

However, that wasn’t the biggest comeback in the famous tournament’s long history, which began way back in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open.

That honor belongs to Ken Venturi, who achieved the feat in 1959, when the tournament was held at Rancho Park Golf Course.

On that occasion, Art Wall was the third-round leader, with Venturi apparently out of contention and needing to make up a daunting eight shots on Wall.

However, Venturi got off to a brilliant start, going six under on the front nine, including back-to-back eagles on the eighth and ninth.

He wasn’t done there, making three birdies on the back nine and finishing his round with just one bogey, at the 12th.

Ken Venturi at the US Open — Ken Venturi came back from eight behind to win in 1959

While Venturi carded a 63, things went in the opposite direction for Wall, who could only manage a 73 to finish runner-up, two back of the surprise winner, who banked prize money of $5,300 for his efforts and a place in the record books.

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.

He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.

Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.

Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

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