The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines witnessed an exhilarating day of golf as Patrick Rodgers surged to the top, showcasing his finest performance amidst the faltering of some of golf's elite. On Saturday, Rodgers delivered an impressive round of 68, securing a one-shot lead as the tournament heads into its final round. Meanwhile, notable players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy found themselves trailing significantly behind Rodgers.
Rodgers' exceptional play began as he was five shots behind McIlroy, who struggled throughout the day, ultimately finishing with a round of 74. McIlroy's troubles were compounded by a three-putt from 12 feet on the par-3 16th hole. In contrast, Rodgers found his stride on the back nine. He executed a remarkable 4-iron shot on the 504-yard 12th hole, landing within 15 feet for a birdie. His momentum continued on the 17th, where he holed a 40-foot birdie putt before concluding with a bogey after a challenging sequence involving a 7-wood from a fairway bunker and three-putting from just inside 15 feet.
As a result of his performance, Rodgers stood at 8-under 208, leading by one shot over Denny McCarthy. Ludvig Åberg finished with a round of 70, placing him another shot behind Rodgers. Despite his current position, Rodgers has yet to secure a win on the PGA Tour.
"It felt like early in my career with the amateur resume that I had, I felt like there was a lot expected of myself internally," said Patrick Rodgers.
On the other hand, Tony Finau demonstrated resilience by chipping in three times during his impressive round of 67. Starting the day nine shots behind the leader, Finau's efforts positioned him four shots back and in the penultimate group for Sunday's final round. The favorable conditions on the first day of full sunshine allowed for good scoring before a strong Pacific breeze set in.
Scheffler and McIlroy will be paired together in an intriguing final round matchup. While both players are renowned for their prowess, they were unable to match Rodgers' pace on Saturday. McIlroy's slow bleed throughout his round left him struggling to maintain momentum.
Rodgers reflected on his journey and mindset as he approaches the final round.
"So instead of playing with a monkey on your back that gets bigger and bigger over time when it doesn't happen, I'm trying to play from a perspective that feels fresh and new and exciting and full of opportunity. Because that's what this game is, and I have a great one tomorrow," he stated.
Ludvig Åberg, who remains in contention with his steady play, praised Rodgers' performance:
"He played amazing and he was great off the tee," remarked Åberg.
Leave a Reply