At a wet Genesis, Bridgeman and Rory able to break par

PACIFIC PALISADES — A few days and a few extra hours because of a nearly three-hour rain delay, and there was Jacob Bridgeman back in the chase for a tournament victory. Do you remember that C&W song, “It never rains in Southern California?”

It does, of course, at the most inappropriate times, like the opening round of the Genesis Invitational Thursday. So play, which had been delayed, was finally called because of darkness. 

Aaron Rai was one of thirty players who didn’t complete the first round. But he was 6-under par for 16 holes he played, good enough for the temporary lead. Bridgeman and Rory McIlroy, who made a strong run last week at the AT&T, did complete the round and were at 5-under 66.

Rei, the Englishman, won the Wyndham two years ago, and is frequently on the leaderboard. So, of course, is McIlroy, who in 2025 won the Masters to complete his personal grand slam. 

Bridgeman, 26, still was seeking his first tour win. He was briefly in the lead Sunday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. But hit his tee shot at 18 into Carmel Bay, creating a 19-minute delay and also enabling Collin Morikawa to get a victory.

Apropos of nothing, Morikawa grew up in southern Cal, not far from the famous Hollywood Sign.

The golfers who didn’t get in the full 18 Thursday had to come back early Friday morning, when there was no rain, but it was cold enough to make a movie about Sgt. Preston and the Great North. Brrr. 

McIlroy, as usual, opened his season with a few rounds in Dubai. He then moved on to California and Pebble, where as the defending AT&T Champion, he played maybe better than expected.

“Yeah, I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable playing in conditions like this over the past few years,” said McIlroy about enduring the downpour and cold. “I’ve gotten more comfortable in controlling my ball flight, and controlling my ball flight, taking a lot more club, hitting the ball low.”

Rory, of course, grew up in Northern Ireland, which doesn’t exactly have bathing suit weather. However, he and countryman Shane Lowry seem to spend most of late winter and early spring in Florida, which does.

“Yeah, I’ve definitely got more comfortable playing in conditions like this over the past few years as I’ve gotten more comfortable in controlling my ball flight,” said Rory, “and controlling my ball flight, taking a lot more club, hitting the ball low.” 

Certainly, that’s the same advice a teaching pro gives to a high handicap amateur.

Bridgeman was asked what he thought about battling the elements. “It was great,” said Bridgeman. “It’s kind of a flashback to last week. Kind of, we got (Thursday) what I think I expected on Sunday at Pebble, and it ended up being great. But the rain was tough.”

There may be an irony about the rain. The drought last year contributed to the fires, which devastated the land surrounding Riviera and forced the shifting of this event to Torrey Pines. If it had rained last winter, the Genesis would have stayed at Riviera. Timing is everything. In golf and in life.