Jacob Bridgeman took command of the Genesis Invitational after a brilliant seven-under-par 64 in round three, putting him six shots ahead of Rory McIlroy at Riviera Country Club.
McIlroy, starting the day just one stroke behind Bridgeman, posted a solid two-under-par 69 to sit at 13 under, maintaining second place.
“I hung in there,” said McIlroy. “I wish I was a couple of shots closer, but I’ll be in the final group and that gives me a chance. I need a fast start, put pressure on, and see how it goes.”
Bridgeman, 26, who also shot a 64 in round two, was in exceptional form, recording seven birdies and an eagle on the 11th hole. Ranked 52nd in the world, he is off to a strong start in 2026, already earning two top-10 finishes in four events, including eighth place last week at Pebble Beach.
“It was fun and easy out there,” Bridgeman said. “My swing felt great, and the crowd energy was amazing. It was a fantastic day.”
England’s Marco Penge, who shared the lead with Bridgeman earlier, struggled with a three-over-par 74, dropping to a tie for seventh. Fellow Englishman Aaron Rai fired a 66 to sit fourth at 11 under, while South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter climbed into third at 12 under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who advanced to the weekend with a clutch seven-foot putt on Friday, is tied for 22nd at five under following a 66.
Selected Genesis Invitational Round Three Leaderboard:
-19 Jacob Bridgeman (US)
-13 Rory McIlroy (NI)
-12 Aldrich Potgieter (SA)
-11 Aaron Rai (Eng), Xander Schauffele (US)
-10 Keita Kitayama (US)
-9 P Greyserman (US), Marco Penge (Eng)
As the final round approaches, Bridgeman looks set to convert his lead into a first Genesis Invitational title, with McIlroy and others aiming to close the gap.
