Jacob Bridgeman delivered under pressure to secure his maiden PGA TOUR title, edging out Rory McIlroy by a single stroke at the Genesis Invitational.
The 26-year-old American entered the final round at Riviera Country Club with a commanding six-shot lead. Early birdies at the first and third extended his advantage to seven, positioning him firmly in control. Despite bogeys at the fourth and seventh, Bridgeman maintained a steady cushion heading into the back nine.
Momentum shifted as he carded six consecutive pars, opening the door for the chasing pack. Rory McIlroy, playing alongside Bridgeman, mounted a strong charge. A brilliant bunker shot at the 12th sparked back-to-back birdies, reducing the deficit to a single stroke. Tension escalated when Bridgeman bogeyed the 16th, tightening the leaderboard.
Fellow American Kurt Kitayama also entered the frame with a birdie at the 17th, drawing level with McIlroy and intensifying the closing stretch.
Composure proved decisive. Bridgeman drained a crucial three-foot par putt at the 18th to sign for a one-over 72, finishing at 18-under-par and clinching a narrow but deserved victory.
“This is way better than I ever dreamt it,” Bridgeman said. “It felt manageable until the 16th, then it became very real. I made it difficult for myself at the end, but winning here is a dream.”
The win continues a strong start to 2026 for Bridgeman, following two earlier top-10 finishes, including an eighth-place result at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He climbs into the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time and moves to the top of the FedExCup standings.
McIlroy closed with an impressive four-under 67 to finish at 17-under alongside Kitayama. “I tried to make things happen,” he reflected. “I converted some chances on the back nine, but I left too many opportunities out there earlier in the week.”
Australia’s Adam Scott produced the round of the day to claim solo fourth at 16-under. Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler finished tied 12th, marking the first time in 18 PGA TOUR starts he failed to register a top-10 finish.
At Riviera, Bridgeman proved that poise under pressure defines champions.
