The Genesis Invitational went right down to the wire with Jacob Bridgeman forced to hold off a comeback from Rory McIlroy, who has shown him his true colours
Jacob Bridgeman won the Genesis Invitational by just one shot(Image: Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
Jacob Bridgeman held off a late surge from Rory McIlroy to claim his first PGA Tour title at the Genesis Invitational. The world No. 2 ended up just one shot off the leader after being six away at the beginning of the day – and Bridgeman has opened up about what it’s like to compete alongside the Northern Irishman.
Bridgeman turned professional in 2022, with McIlroy a career Grand Slam winner and Ryder Cup veteran. But the 26-year-old – who has made just 43 cuts from 65 Tour appearances – handled the late comeback from McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama to finish 18-under at the Tour’s second signature event.
McIlroy has made a solid start to 2026 after his remarkable campaign last year, but he couldn’t get the job done on this occasion. Bridgeman had spoken candidly about his mindset ahead of the final round at the Genesis Invitational, where he took to the fairways alongside the veteran golfer.
He said: “I think maybe the only thing would be I know he’s going to play well tomorrow. I know that I can’t back up at all. But I think I feel comfortable.
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“I was a little bit uncertain how it would be last year when I played with him in the play-offs. And I had a big day in Baltimore, I had to play good to make the Tour Championship and I was paired with Rory and it was kind of a lot, I thought.
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“Then I got out there and he was super nice to me and super welcoming, and the fans were great as well. I think if it were my first time, maybe it would be a little unsettling, but now I’m not worried about it.”
Bridgeman’s feelings on McIlroy spoke volumes as he didn’t allow the pressure from the 36-year-old to derail his pursuit of glory at the tournament. “I’m a competitor,” Bridgeman said when asked what he wants people to know about him.
McIlroy showed his class to Bridgeman(Image: Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
“I haven’t had a ton of chances to win yet in my career, but I’m hoping that I’ll have a chance, a good chance tomorrow all the way till the end. If I can get it done, I’d like to kind of start rolling and get a lot of these.”
Discussing his strategy for the win, Bridgeman added: “Yeah, I think the way I’ve been playing is pretty aggressive and it’s been working.
“I don’t know that I’m going to change anything. And if that aggression gets me into a little bit of trouble, that’s ok . Maybe it will kind of balance out with some good ones.
Bridgeman was made to sweat by McIlroy(Image: Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
“Yeah, I don’t think anything’s going to change. Hopefully I can come out firing again. If it doesn’t work out that way, maybe I’ll reassess halfway through, but I’m going to probably play the same way.”
This strategy almost faltered as Bridgeman survived a nervy final round to secure his first PGA Tour title right from under McIlroy’s nose. Reflecting on his win, the American said: “I thought it was going to be a lot easier than that.
“It was honestly easy until I got to about 16, and then it got really hard. I can’t believe it. I made it about as hard as I could have made it I think at the end – making it one shot and having to make a three-footer, but this is incredible.
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“I didn’t really feel crazy nervous until I had a five-footer for bogey on 16, that one was sketchy. I hit a really good putt and luckily it went in, and then I was really nervous from there on out.
“I couldn’t even feel my hands on the last couple greens. I just hit the putt hoping it would get somewhere near the hole, and both of them I left a mile short. I’m glad it’s done now.”