Jacob Bridgeman holds off Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama to win first PGA Tour title at Riviera

Jacob Bridgeman held off a late charge from Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama to win his first PGA Tour title at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.

Bridgeman took a commanding six-stroke lead into the final round, but a closing round of 1-over 72 saw him stumble over the line by one. 

After watching McIlroy drain a 35-footer for birdie to share second with Kitayama, the 26-year-old American was left with two putts for the win from 25 feet. 

Bridgeman sent a nervy birdie attempt three feet shy, but he kept his composure to send the ball home in front of thousands of fans and one very interested spectator in tournament host Tiger Woods. 

Bridgeman posted rounds of 66, 64, 64 and 72 for a winning total of 18-under par.

He extended his lead to seven shots after making two birdies on his first three holes, but bogeys at 4, 7 and 16 saw things get close down the closing stretch.

Under the most intense pressure, and unable to feel his hands on his putter on 17 and 18, Bridgeman somehow managed to hold firm and make closing pars to seal the deal. 

"This is way better than I ever dreamt it," an emotional Bridgeman told CBS' Amanda Balionis on the 18th green.

"I thought it was going to be a lot easier than that. It was honestly easy until about 16 then it got really hard. 

"I can't believe it, I think I made it as hard as I could at the end having to make a three-footer but this is incredible."

On dealing with nerves trying to hold off McIlroy and Kitayama down the closing stretch, Bridgeman added: "I didn't 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, then I was really nervous coming in. 

"I actually couldn't feel my hands on the last couple of greens, I just hit the putt hoping it would go somewhere near the hole and both of them I left a mile short but glad it's done now." 

On becoming a first-time PGA Tour winner on Riviera's 100th anniversary, Bridgeman said: "Winning on this course in front of so many people is a dream come true. 

"This is a golf course I grew up watching and watching guys win so this means a lot. Everyone out here was great and pulling for me. I felt super supportive all day and everyone was amazing to me."

To make the victory extra sweet, Bridgeman was presented with the trophy by tournament host and his childhood hero Woods on the 18th green. 

Bridgeman now moves into the world's top 25 for the first time in his career, and more importantly to first in the FedEx Cup standings. 

The result marks a fifth straight top-20 finish for Bridgeman in 2026. 

McIlroy (67) made birdie from long range on 18 but he was forced to settle for a tie for second alongside Kitayama (64) on 17-under par. 

Grand slam champion McIlroy was seeking a first ever win at Riviera but it was not to be. 

The Northern Irishman was left to rue an extremely cold putter for much of the round, with McIlroy ranking well down the field for strokes-gained putting on -1.884. 

Adam Scott vaulted up the board with his second 63 of the week to finish solo fourth on 16-under par. 

Aldrich Potgieter threatened to contend for the title at one stage on the back nine but he could not keep pace and settled for a 68 to round out the top five on 15-under par.

Scottie Scheffler's impressive record run of top-10 finishes narrowly came to an end. 

The World No.1 closed with weekend rounds of 66 and 65 to finish the week T12 on 11-under par.

Prior to Riviera, the four-time major champion had racked up 18 consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour — the best run since Billy Casper recorded 17 between 1964 and 1965.

Scheffler was left to rue another slow start to a tournament with a dismal 74 on day one. 

Nevertheless, he still holds the longest active cut streak on the PGA Tour with 68. 

That was the same number he posted on Friday in order to make the cut on the number.