Bridgman staves off McIlroy and Kitayama for title

Upstart Jacob Bridgeman hung on to win his first PGA Tour title at the Genesis Invitational golf championships despite carding a final round of one-over- par 72.

Coming into the final day with a six stroke lead over World No 2 Rory McIlroy, Bridgeman clinched the title and the USD 4 million prize money by just one stroke over McIlroy and a charging Kurt Kitayama.

His a four-day total 18-under- par of 266 saw him joining Phil Mickelson (2009) and Rory Sabbatini (2006) to win after shooting over par in the final round.

Bridgeman had birdied the first and third holes to take a seven-shot lead but stumbled with bogeys at No. 4 and No. 7. He had to par his final hole to ensure his victory.

“I pictured myself walking up that hole with a four-shot lead knowing that I’d won. Unfortunately for me, it was only a one-shot lead and it became a lot more nervous,” said Bridgeman.

The Genesis Invitational was the 26-year-old golfers fifth start of the season, having finished in the top ten at the both the Sony Open in Hawaii (T4) and Pebble Beach Pro-Am (T8).

The victory also saw him move from No. 14 to the top of the FedExCup standings.

“I couldn’t even feel my hands on the last couple greens.I just hit the putt hoping it would get somewhere near the hole, and both of them I left a mile short. But I’m glad it’s done now,” added Bridgeman.

Entering the final round nine-strokes back, Kitayama carded a 7-under 64 to record his fourth runner-up on Tour.

Kitayama, nearly pulled off an even bigger comeback, pulling to within one shot when he rolled in a 32-foot birdie at No. 17, and Bridgeman bogeyed No. 16 to drop to 18 under.

McIlroy Seeking his 30^th PGA TOUR victory, McIlroy ended up with his 13^th runner-up finish on the Tour.

McIlroy hit a 30-foot birdie on the 18th only to see Bridgeman to par the hole and take the title at the death.

Two-time Genesis Invitational champion Adam Scott finished on 4th on 16-under-par after carding a final round 8-under 63.

however, Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, winner of last year’s Genesis at Torrey Pines, tied for 20th at nine-under after a final-round 66.

World No. 1 and 20-time PGA Tour winner Scottie Scheffler finished T12 with a 11-under-par total, ending a streak of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes on Tour.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was tied for last after the first day and barely made the cut at even par but played the last two rounds in 11 under par to finish tied for 12th.

Meanwhile, Max Greyserman (T24/-7) carded a hole-in-one on No. 14, his first career ace on Tour and the seventh ace at No. 14 on record.

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