LOS ANGELES — Jacob Bridgeman enjoyed a day filled with cheers for others at Riviera until the very end. He made a crucial par putt on the 18th hole for a 1-over 72, securing a razor-thin victory in the Genesis Invitational and clinching his first PGA Tour title.
Bridgeman began with a six-shot lead, extending it to seven with 12 holes to go. in the end, it all boiled down to a pivotal shot from the 18th fairway, landing 20 feet below the hole, followed by a nerve-wracking 3-foot par putt with his shadow looming near the hole.
With composure, he sank the putt for a one-shot win over Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama, who both made strong finishes that put Bridgeman on edge more than he anticipated.
“This is way, way better than I ever dreamed,” Bridgeman remarked.
Not since Adam Scott’s victory in 2005 has a player won at Riviera on their debut. Bridgeman, a 26-year-old from Clemson, had shown impressive performance last year, making it to the Tour Championship and steadily improving since.
He triumphed in a marquee event against a competitive field, taking home $4 million and being congratulated by host Tiger Woods at the steps overlooking the 18th green.
Bridgeman finished at 18-under 266, going without a birdie over the last 15 holes. He was met with continuous cheers for McIlroy, a beloved figure in golf who only became a contender after sinking a bunker shot for birdie on the 12th and finishing with back-to-back birdies for a 67.
Cheers resonated throughout Riviera as Max Greyserman scored a hole-in-one on the 14th, Tommy Fleetwood made an eagle from the fairway on the 15th, and Kitayama hit a pinpoint shot on the par-3 16th, barely escaping the bunker for a two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th.
Bridgeman, after a brilliant approach shot to 12 feet for birdie on the third hole, received only lukewarm applause from the Los Angeles crowd. He executed a strong chip on the fourth, leading to a bogey, with the rest of his day filled with 20-foot birdie opportunities.
yet, he found himself in the bunker on the 16th and needed a 5-foot par putt to maintain his lead. His birdie attempts on the 17th and 18th fell well short on greens known for their daunting short putts.
The final par putt was a mix of joy and relief.
“I thought this was going to be a lot easier,” Bridgeman said. “Honestly, it was smooth sailing until I reached 16, after which it turned challenging. I made it as tough as possible for myself.”
Scott, who got a sponsor exemption, had five birdies on the back nine and closed with a 63, finishing fourth, just two shots behind.
Scottie Scheffler, who had to sink a 7-foot par putt on Friday to stay in the tournament, scored 66-65 over the weekend and ended up tied for 12th, marking his worst finish since he placed tied for 20th at The Players Championship nearly a year ago, thus breaking a streak of 18 consecutive top-10s.
Bridgeman is already set for the Masters having reached the Tour Championship last year. He became the first player this year to claim victory on the PGA Tour while ranked outside the top 50 (No. 52). This win elevates him into the top 25.
Not only did he win at the prestigious Riviera course, but he also did so alongside McIlroy, the Masters champion, who was in the spotlight until he fell off the pace despite a dramatic finish. Many putts fell just shy, but the final one dropped from 30 feet.
At one point, it appeared that McIlroy might force a playoff after Bridgeman’s initial putt came up short. yet, Bridgeman maintained his composure throughout the tournament. In reality, he felt pressure.
“I could barely feel my hands over the last couple of greens,” Bridgeman admitted. “I just putted in hopes it would get somewhat near the hole, and both times, I left them way short. But I’m relieved it’s over.”
