Riviera newcomers Penge and
Bridgeman share lead at Genesis with McIlroy on their heels
[February 21, 2026]
By DOUG FERGUSON
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marco Penge and Jacob Bridgeman had superb
finishes at Riviera on Friday, each with a 7-under 64 that left them
tied for the lead at the Genesis Invitational with Rory McIlroy
right on their heels.
For Scottie Scheffler, the objective was just getting to the
weekend. He accomplished that by the smallest of margins, a 7-foot
par putt that caught just enough of the lip to swirl in.
Penge, the leading player from the European tour to secure a PGA
Tour card for this year, pulled away with five birdies over his
final seven holes and was the first to post at 12-under 130. More
remarkable than his score was keeping his mind on golf — his wife is
moving into their new home in Florida and expecting their second
child next week.
“It’s been quite tough, to be fair, the last four weeks for me and
my family,” Penge said. "She’s been in the U.S. on her own, heavily
pregnant, looking after a 1 1/2-year old at the same time with no
family or friends around.
“It’s been like a bit of a gamble of me just kind of going to
compete and leaving her on her own.”
Bridgeman only played Riviera for the first time Wednesday because
of rain. He birdied his last three holes, finishing with a 5-iron
into a cool breeze to 8 feet to join Penge.
The former Clemson star has discovered a fondness for poa annua, the
strain of grass that get bumpy with spikes and footprints and late
afternoon growth, and can be downright terrifying on short par putts
when the greens are this fast.
Joe Greiner, a caddie in his group, even asked him, “Are you sure
you're not from the West coast?”
“It's shocking how soft they are and how fast they are,” Bridgeman
said. “I think two or three times today I hit it 6 feet by the hole
and was just like, ‘Wow, I don’t know how they’re that fast,’
because you can hit a 5-iron and it will back up. This is probably
the most pure poa annua I’ve ever seen.”
McIlroy has opened 66-65 and he has only one bogey on his card
through 36 holes, quite a change from last week at Pebble Beach when
he had three double bogeys and a triple bogey that ruined his
chances to contend.
He played the three par 5s with two birdies and an eagle on the
11th, and he birdied the par-3 fourth for the second straight day.
The hole was lengthened to 273 yards, which McIlroy called a
“horrible change” at the start of the year. The PGA Tour has yet to
use that tee.
[to top of second column] |
Marco Penge, from England, reacts after putting on the 18th green
during the second round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament
at Riviera Country Club, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in the Pacific
Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
The biggest change was keeping mistakes out of his
round.
“There’s no Pacific Ocean to hit it into around this golf course, so
that helps,” McIlroy said. “I still hit some loose shots, but the
course setup is in a way that you can get away with it a little bit
more. But I’ve hit it well, I’ve controlled my distance well for the
most part, and I’ve holed some nice putts from inside 8 feet for
pars when I've needed to.”
Xander Schauffele showed more strides toward sharpness with a 65
that left him three shots behind, along with two-time Riviera winner
Adam Scott, who had the low round of the day at 63. Scott was 9
under through 13 until spending the final hour scrambling for par
and only failing to do that on the last hole.
This is one of three signature events that has a 36-hole cut to top
50 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead. Scheffler, who
had to rally Friday morning for a 74 to complete the rain-delayed
first round, was well aware where he stood. He was on the ropes,
4-over par for the tournament, 10 holes to play, figuring he needed
to get to even par.
The world's No. 1 player promptly made three straight birdies around
the turn, the last two the product of his exquisite short game, and
picked up another on the par-5 17th. But he got steep on a simple
chip at the 18th and lightly pumped his fist when the 7-footer for
par curled into the cup.
It was the third straight week he failed to break par in the opening
round — something he hasn't done since his rookie season in 2020 —
and he rallied in Phoenix and Pebble Beach to give himself a chance
to win. This was about giving himself a chance to play, and he was
delighted.
“I started the day not where I wanted to,” Scheffler said. “But
yeah, battled and it looks like I get another couple rounds to see
what I can do.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
