SAN DIEGO (AP) — In an unexpected turn of events, Denny McCarthy finished a challenging day on a high note on Thursday at the Genesis Invitational. He closed with a birdie and an eagle to card a 4-under 68 on the demanding Torrey Pines course, living up to its reputation as a formidable challenge. McCarthy held a one-shot lead over Seamus Power and Patrick Rodgers, while Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player, finished at 70 after missing a birdie putt on the final hole. McCarthy credited his positive attitude and preparation for his solid performance, including braving the cold and wet conditions during the pro-am. The Genesis Invitational moved to Torrey Pines this year due to wildfires, showcasing a course that has hosted major events and has ties to Tiger Woods. Despite the tough conditions, only a few players managed to break par, with McCarthy leading the way in pursuit of his first PGA Tour win.
Mrs. Riviera came forward on Thursday when the club made public a generous donation of $1 million. Just three weeks ago, Harris English emerged victorious at Torrey Pines with an impressive score of 8-under par, marking the highest performance to par in the six PGA Tour events held so far this year, and the most remarkable since the Memorial tournament last year. During one of his rounds, English took on the challenging North course. However, this week, all four courses are set on the South course.
The competition kicked off with English starting off with a 75, while Rasmus Hojgaard and Adam Hadwin struggled, failing to break the 80 mark with scores of 82 and 83, respectively. Reflecting on the playing conditions, Michael Kim noted, “It’s blowing only like 10 to 15 (mph), but 10 to 15 here is basically 25 to 30 at other places,” after carding a 71. The weather forecast predicts gradual clearing, though it may not be sufficient to alleviate the moisture on the course, leading to longer playing conditions and thicker rough. To navigate these challenges, Scheffler opted to carry a 5-wood in his bag this week to aid in shots out of the rough, while Jordan Spieth reintroduced a 7-wood to his game since using it at Torrey Pines during the 2021 U.S. Open.
Expressing the relentless nature of the competition, Power remarked, “There’s no letup. And I think it’s going to be the same for the next two days.” For more golf news and updates, visit the AP’s golf hub at https://apnews.com/hub/golf.
