Adam Scott and Riviera: a perfect twosome in golf

PACIFIC PALISADES — It was the Nissan Open. Now it is the Genesis Invitational. Whatever the name, the PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club brings out the best in Adam Scott.

Scott won it in a weird one-hole playoff on a Monday in 2005 following days of rain. Then he won it again 15 years later over 72 holes.   

Whether he can win it this year at age 45 is questionable, but look at the leaderboard after 36 holes.  There’s Scott, three shots out of the lead and feeling as young and upbeat as imaginable.

“It’s my favorite stop on the Tour,” said Scott. “I’m lucky to be here on an invite, so I’m wanting to make the most of it.” So far, he is doing that. Scott shot an 8-under par 63 Friday, has a 12-under total of 130 for two rounds, and is three shots behind co-leaders Marco Penge and Jacob Bridgeman. On a cool, rainless morning and afternoon, Penge and Bridgeman each shot 64. In third place is everyone’s favorite, Rory McIlroy, who shot 65. And then sharing 4th at 133 are Zander Schauffele (65) and Scott. 

Adam is from Australia and spent a few months at UNLV. That was in a time when Jerry Tarkanian was coaching basketball. But Scott spent his time on golf courses, not in gyms. He won the Masters in 2013.

Penge is 27. And has two victories on the European Tour and the DP tour, but is best known for being suspended for betting on matches in which he was not involved. That was a few years ago, and to regain his golfing privileges, he pledged never to bet again.

As several of the top players in the Genesis, Bridgeman has been on a streak.  He finished high in last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am after knocking his tee shot into the water at 18.

“I think I’m really good in the elements,” Bridgeman said, alluding to the rain Thursday and the wind off the Pacific Friday.

McIlroy said Thursday he is better now at adapting to weather problems, able to keep his drives low and thus being less affected by conditions.

“Felt like I held the round together really nicely,” McIlroy said Friday. “When we sort of turned back into the wind, there were 12 through 16, made a couple of really good par saves.”

Schauffele had a streak of 72 consecutive PGA Tour events without missing a cut.  That ended a month ago in the Farmers at Torrey Pines, which for a San Diego kid was a hometown event. 

When asked how he would describe the two days on Riviera, Schauffele, a two-time major champion, said “Damp. Yeah, damp is where—I’m going to die on that hill right now.”

He’s very much alive. “Check the scoreboard.”