Resilient Marco Penge earns share of lead at Genesis Invitational
It was a long day at the office for Marco Penge, but the overtime was worth it for the 27-year-old from Lancashire, England, who shot a bogey-free 64 on Friday and is tied for the lead with Jacob Bridgeman after two rounds of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.
Penge took the lead with birdies on five of the final seven holes, then watched Bridgeman close with three birdies to catch him at 12 under par.
“I was biding my time on the front nine — the targets are so small here — but I found my swing over time and that allowed me to be more aggressive,” said Penge, who won three times on the DP World Tour last year to earn his first PGA Tour card. “It’s difficult for a European to come here and do the things that Rory [McIlroy] and Tommy [Fleetwood] I’m getting by but I managed the course well today.
Penge was in the final group Thursday and was on the 10th hole when play was suspended due to darkness. He made four birdies and two bogeys on the back nine early Friday morning to join McIlroy, Bridgeman and compatriot Aaron Rai at five under par. He had only 38 minutes left between the end of his first round and the start of the second, but showed no signs of fatigue.
Marco Penge reacts after playing on the 18th green during the second round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
“Not really, I wasn’t any more tired than usual,” he said. “When you see that you are near the top, your adrenaline helps you get through it.”
Although he did not receive time and a half for playing 27 holes instead of the normal 18, he will be given a health check on Sunday afternoon if Penge manages to maintain his position.
Likewise for Bridgeman, who used his momentum from the day before to also score a 64, opening his round with an eagle and making eight birdies to more than make up for bogeys at No. 7 and No. 12.
“I putt really well, I hit my driver well and I’m excited to be in contention for the second week in a row,” Bridgeman said after calmly sinking an eight-foot birdie putt on the final hole. “Yesterday was a learning experience. The 18th played a lot longer than I thought it would today. It’s shocking how soft and fast these greens are. It’s the purest layout I’ve ever seen.”
Jacob Bridgeman hits from the 18th fairway during the second round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
McIlroy, the world’s second-ranked player, comes within one stroke after Adam Scott, a two-time winner under 65, entered contention with two eagles and five birdies – an eight-under-par 63 marred only by his bogey at 18. Scott has won twice at Riviera, in 2005 (36 rain-shortened holes) and 2020, and is tied for fourth with Xander Schauffele. at nine o’clock.
Schauffele, ranked 13th in the world, also had a prolonged day. He was tied for 29th through 11 holes when play was suspended Thursday and played the final seven holes of the first round at three under par. The 2016-17 Rookie of the Year notched the last of his 10 Tour victories at the Baycurrent Classic last October.
“I’m tired, man…I can’t wait to lay down soon,” said the 32-year-old who lives in Jupiter, Fla., but was born in San Diego and played college golf at Long Beach State and San Diego State.
Asked about tournament host Tiger Woods’ suggestion to postpone the event until the summer, Schauffele said: “Wherever it is and whatever the conditions are – dry, wet, humid – I just enjoy playing here.”
Rai was leading by one stroke when play was suspended on Thursday, but made a bogey of 18 early Friday to fall into a tie and shot a 70 in the second round, leaving him tied for 12th with South African Aldrich Potgeiter, Ryan Fox and 2021 Genesis champion Max Homa at the halfway point.
“My ball striking was better than yesterday and I got more looks at birdies,” Potgeiter said after shooting 68 for a second straight day. “The course looks great…with the amount of rain we had, they did a good job.”
World number one Scottie Scheffler was tied with Keegan Bradley for last place at five points when he left the course Thursday night and shot two under over his final eight holes early Friday morning to begin the second round tied for 65th at three points. He made three birdies and six pars on the back nine for a second-round 68 to reach par and was among 51 in the 72-player field to qualify.
“It’s nice to be able to get two more cracks on the course,” said a relieved Scheffler after having to drain a four-foot birdie putt at the 17th to extend his streak to 68 — the longest active streak on Tour. “This place and I have a strange relationship. I feel like I can play well here, but I haven’t yet. I was very aware that I had to at least make par to continue. I had to fight because the final stretch is difficult here.”
Scheffler hasn’t missed a cut since the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August 2022.
The conditions were ideal and the scores were like the second day of the 100th edition of a tournament still in contention, with 22 players nine shots from the lead. One of them is Max Greyserman, who is tied for sixth with Australian Min Woo Lee at eight under.
“Starting with an eagle is always nice,” said Greyserman, a 30-year-old who lives in Palm Beach and is looking to earn his first professional victory. “I hit a lot of good drives. If you miss the fairways here, things get tricky. The kikuyu grass is interesting. I didn’t grow up with it. I played Genesis last year at Torrey. [Pines] and I’ve played here four times before this week. It’s a good test, a fair test, a fun test.
