Genesis Invitational 2026: Rory McIlroy One Shot Back of Leaders Penge & Bridgeman
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Rory McIlroy’s strong 7-under 65 puts him just one stroke behind the leaders at -11 |
Genesis Invitational 2026: Rory McIlroy Closes In on Leaders Marco Penge & Jacob Bridgeman – Halfway Recap
Posted on February 22, 2026 | By Kishwar Khan | Qalamkaar Sports Analysis
The Genesis Invitational at the iconic Riviera Country Club is heating up, and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is right in the mix. After a solid second-round 7-under 65, McIlroy sits at -11, just one stroke behind surprise co-leaders Marco Penge (England) and Jacob Bridgeman (USA), both at -12. This PGA Tour showcase is delivering drama, big names, and plenty of birdies as we head into the weekend.
Round Two Leaderboard Highlights
After weather delays pushed some players to complete 27 holes in a single day, the top of the board looks like this:
- -12: Marco Penge (Eng), Jacob Bridgeman (US)
- -11: Rory McIlroy (NI)
- -9: Adam Scott (Aus), Xander Schauffele (US)
- -8: Min Woo Lee (Aus), Paul Greyserman (US)
- -7: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Wyndham Clark (US), and others
Notably, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler scraped into the weekend at even par after a tense par save on the final hole. Defending champions and big names like Jordan Spieth (-5) and Rickie Fowler (-2) are still in the hunt but face an uphill battle.
Standout Performances & Stories
Marco Penge's second-round 64 was electric – five birdies in his last seven holes despite the pressure of a heavily pregnant wife back home and recent family moves. He called it "a bit of a gamble" but showed incredible focus. McIlroy, coming off a tough week at Pebble Beach, loved Riviera's more forgiving setup: "There's no Pacific Ocean to hit it into around this golf course, so that helps."
“It's been quite tough the last four weeks for me and my family... She's been in the US on her own, heavily pregnant, looking after a one-and-a-half-year old... It's been like a bit of a gamble.” — Marco Penge on balancing family and elite golf
Influencer Threads & Expert Takes
Golf Twitter is buzzing. Check these sharp breakdowns:
- Golf Channel's live leaderboard thread – real-time updates and reactions.
- @PGATOUR official thread – highlights, stats, and player quotes from round two.
Follow the conversation with #GenesisInvitational #RoryMcIlroy #PGATour for the latest fan and analyst insights.
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