Jacob Bridgeman Holds Off Rory McIlroy And Kurt Kitayama To Claim Maiden PGA Tour Title At Genesis Invitational

Starting six shots clear of the field, Bridgeman carded a one-over-par final round to claim a one stroke victory over a number of big names at Riviera Country Club

Jacob Bridgeman holds the Genesis Invitational trophy alongside Tiger Woods

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Going into the final round of the Genesis Invitational, you could be forgiven for thinking the title was going to Jacob Bridgeman, who started Sunday with a commanding six shot advantage.

Jacob Bridgeman and Rory McIlroy watch putts

Bridgeman was paired alongside McIlroy for the final round in Los Angeles

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Beginning his round with a birdie at the first and third holes, Bridgeman extended his advantage to seven strokes and, even with bogeys at the fourth and seventh, he was still comfortably ahead going into the back nine.

Finding six straight pars to begin the final run in, charges were being made from numerous players, but enough wasn't being done to challenge the 26-year-old, who remained consistent and strong at Riviera Country Club.

Adam Scott, who claimed victory at the Genesis Invitational in 2020, carded an eight-under 63 to finish 16-under, while Kitayama, who made eight birdies on Sunday, produced a seven-under 64 to set the clubhouse target at 17-under.

In fact, it was a birdie at the 17th from Kitayama that put the pressure on Bridgeman, who bogeyed the par 3 16th to see his then three shot lead drop to just one.

Kurt Kitayama waves to the crowd after holing a putt

Kitayama set the clubhouse target following a stunning seven-under final round

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Not taking advantage of the par 5 17th, making a five following a poor approach, Bridgeman led by a single stroke going up the last.

Finding the fairway, and then the green, it appeared the event hosted by Tiger Woods was wrapped up by Bridgeman, that was until he left his birdie putt four-foot short.

Going through his routine, the par putt was never anywhere else as he rammed it home for a relieved victory at the iconic venue.

Jacob Bridgeman hugs his caddie on the 18th hole

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Speaking after his round, an emotional Bridgeman stated: "This is way, way better than I ever dreamt it. I thought it was going to be a lot easier than that. It was honestly easy until I got to the 16th, then it got really hard.

"I made it as hard as I could at the end, having to make a three-footer at the last. I didn't feel crazy nervous until I had to hole a five-footer for bogey at the 16th. That one was sketchy.

"I couldn't feel my hands on the last few greens. I hit that putt on 18 hoping it would get somewhere near the hole. I'm glad it's done now. Winning at this course, in front of so many people, is a dream come true."

Genesis Invitational Leaderboard

  • -18 Jacob Bridgeman (72)
  • -17 Kurt Kitayama (64)
  • -17 Rory McIlroy (67)
  • -16 Adam Scott (63)
  • -15 Aldrich Potgieter (68)
  • -13 Jake Knapp (66)
  • -12 Collin Morikawa (65)
  • -12 Cameron Young (66)
  • -12 Tommy Fleetwood (67)
  • -12 Ryan Fox (67)
  • -12 Xander Schauffele (69)
  • -11 Min Woo Lee (65)
  • -11 Scottie Scheffler (65)
  • -11 Jordan Spieth (66)
  • -11 Alex Noren (66)
  • -10 Sam Stevens (65)
  • -10 Pierceson Coody (67)
  • -10 Akshay Bhatia (68)
  • -10 Marco Penge (70)
  • -9 Ludvig Aberg (66)
  • -9 Robert MacIntyre (67)

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FRONT NINE RECAP

Sitting 19-under, he's four clear of Kurt Kitayama and Aldrich Potgieter, who are making final round charges at Riviera Country Club.

One player who has struggled is Rory McIlroy, who is paired alongside Bridgeman. The five-time Major winner hasn't performed on the greens today and finds himself six shots back of the leader.

UNLUCKY BREAK FOR THE LEADER

Taking out a 4-iron, the mud flies the ball left and it nestles down in the thick rough. He will have a tough shot coming up.

In terms of McIlroy, he pummels a 5-iron into the heart of the green and will have an eagle attempt coming up from 35-foot.

SCOTTIE SHOOTS A 65

Scottie Scheffler hits a driver off the tee

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His top 10 streak is still alive, as Scottie Scheffler fires a six-under 65 on Sunday.

The World No.1 hasn't finished outside the top 10 since The Players Championship, with his current streak standing at 19.

He is currently in a tie for eighth but, with plenty of golf left to play, he could well see his top 10 streak continue.

RORY GAINS A SHOT ON BRIDGEMAN

A NORMAL SPIETH PAR

BAD TEE SHOT FOR RORY

It's one of the hardest tee shots on the course and, with the five-time Major winner stepping up, he pulls his drive left and it is well back next to the tree line. He will have difficulty making a par from there.

Bridgeman, meanwhile, has hit the fairway all three days and, with his drive, makes it four from four, pounding his tee shot down the short grass.

GO ON TOMMY LAD

DROPPED SHOT FOR POTGIETER

The South African goes from 15-under to 14-under, falling out of a share of second alongside Kitayama.

SOLID FROM BRIDGEMAN

McIlroy, meanwhile, has 260 yards left into the green and his iron shot comes up well short, finishing in the bunker. He's around 40 yards from the hole, so leaves a tough save for par.

MAX GREYSERMAN MAKES AN ACE

WHAT IS GOING ON?

Leaving himself 35 yards, the bunker shot comes out superbly, lands a few feet short and hits the center of the flag to drop in for a birdie. He's four back of Bridgeman.

KITAYAMA PRODUCES A DART

Kurt Kitayama hits a driver

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He currently shares second place alongside McIlroy and, at the par 3 14th, Kitayama puts his tee shot a few feet from the hole, almost replicating Greyserman's heroics from a few moments ago.

The American will have that to move to 16-under, and to move three back of Greyserman, who safely two putted at the 12th.

UNREAL FROM RORY

GREYSERMAN MAKES THE ACE

BIG MISS FOR KITAYAMA

Speaking of Bridgeman, who is four clear, he safely finds the green at the 13th, while McIlroy also finds the dance floor, albeit he is further away than his playing partner.

ADAM SCOTT TO 15-UNDER

Adam Scott at the Australian Open

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It's a little too late for Scott, but the Australian is enjoying a fine performance on Sunday, as the Major winner birdies the 17th to move to 15-under.

He's bogey-free today, sitting seven-under for the round. He received a sponsor's invite and is making the most of it today.

CLUTCH FROM BRIDGEMAN

Bridgeman, meanwhile, has a similar length putt, which he rams a good five-foot past the hole. It's a testy putt coming back, but he's up to the challenge as the American saves par to remain 19-under.

ANOTHER SOLID SHOT FROM BRIDGEMAN

Jacob Bridgeman shakes hands

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He's doing everything right here at Riviera, with Bridgeman's tee shot at the par 3 14th finishing 15-foot left of the flag.

McIlroy, meanwhile, pulls his approach left, leaving himself around 30-foot for the birdie. You feel he needs to get going to have any chance of overtaking the leader.

PARS AT THE 14TH

The line he took gives Bridgeman a great read, but his attempt is weak and never looks in. He taps in for the par to remain 19-under, four clear of McIlroy, Kitayama and Scott, who is playing the 18th.

ANOTHER DART FROM KURT

GOOD SHAPE FOR BRIDGEMAN

McIlroy, meanwhile, sees his tee shot land in the fairway bunker, leaving himself an extremely tough second into the par 4.

SUPER SCOTT

Adam Scott stares into the distance

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Scott rolls back the years and birdies the 17th and 18th to fire an eight-under 63 at Riviera!

Excellent round from the 45-year-old, whose bogey-free 63 is his seventh bogey-free round at Riviera. He is 16-under and solo second right now.

BIRDIES FOR KURT AND ALDRICH

Kitayama birdies the par 3 16th to move to 16-under, while Potgieter birdies the 15th to join McIlroy at 15-under.

Behind the duo, leader Bridgeman is safely aboard at the 15th, leaving 25-feet for birdie.

SO GOOD FROM SCOTTY

PARS FOR JACOB AND RORY

McIlroy, meanwhile, goes from bunker-to-bunker at the 15th, eventually leaving himself a six-footer to save par. He's missed a few of these today, but the putt never looks anywhere else, as it drops to keep him 15-under.

EAGLE CHANCE FOR KITAYAMA

Landing on the fringe, it rolls out to 30-foot, leaving himself an eagle attempt that, if it went in, would put him 18-under.

POSSIBLE TROUBLE FOR THE LEADER?

To make matters worse, it lands and finishes on the downslope, leaving the American a tough up-and-down for par.

THIS ISN'T OVER

Finding the bunker at the 16th, Bridgeman is forced to play out to the center of the green, with his second finishing 40-foot from the flag.

It's not a guaranteed two-putt and, up ahead, Kitayama makes a birdie at the 17th to move within two.

THE LEAD IS ONE

He is forced to wait, as McIlroy hits his birdie putt. That attempt comes up inches short, as he remains 15-under.

Back to Bridgeman, who converts for bogey and is now 18-under, just one ahead of Kitayama.

FAIRWAYS FOUND

For Kitayama, he is playing the 18th and sees his tee shot go 327 yards down the middle. Bridgeman, meanwhile, strikes his ball 317 yards and will have a good look at making a birdie at the par 5 17th.

BIRDIE PUTT COMING UP

Kurt Kitayama walks off the green

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From 175 yards, Kitayama pulls his approach at the 18th, leaving himself a 33-footer for birdie, which he will, likely, have to hole.

SECOND SHOT OF BRIDGEMAN'S

It's well back of the lip, but it's a lengthy bunker shot coming up for the American, who is also 35 yards back of the flag and partly short-sided.

McIlroy, meanwhile, also finds the bunker, but he's much further up and should have an easier shot.

TARGET SET

BUNKER SHOTS FROM THE FINAL PAIR

McIlroy, meanwhile, plays a gorgeous bunker shot and taps in for the birdie. He moves to 16-under, two back of Bridgeman.

BRIDGEMAN ONE UP GOING DOWN THE LAST

Jacob Bridgeman acknowledges fans during the Genesis Invitational

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TEE SHOTS AT THE 18TH

Excellent tee shots from both men, who will have around 180-190 yards in at the 18th.

SPIETH'S REACTION IN REAL TIME

GOOD WEEK FOR POTGIETER

WHAT A SHOT FROM THE LEADER

BIRDIE AT THE LAST FOR RORY

JACOB BRIDGEMAN WINS THE GENESIS INVITATIONAL

A TWO PUTT AT THE LAST

It's a knee-knocker but, like every other putt today, Bridgeman rams it home and claims his first PGA Tour title in front of Tiger Woods. What a performance from the 26-year-old!

THE WINNING MOMENT

WORDS FROM THE CHAMPION

A HANDSHAKE WITH THE HOST

SCENES ON 18 FROM RORY

YOUR GENESIS INVITATIONAL CHAMP

Jacob Bridgeman with the Genesis Invitational trophy

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