SAN DIEGO — Davis Thompson finished an eventful back nine at Torrey Pines with a birdie, taking the lead on Friday at the Genesis Invitational. Close behind was Scottie Scheffler, who had a day of unusual challenges off the tee.
The atmosphere is set for an exciting weekend in this prestigious $20 million tournament, with two prominent names at the top of the leaderboard: Scheffler, who played without a single bogey despite hitting only five fairways, and Rory McIlroy, showcasing the skills that led him to victory at Pebble Beach.
Thompson managed just two pars while on the back nine and capped off his round with a strong wedge shot that landed mere inches from the hole, allowing him to finish with a 6-under 66 and take a one-shot lead over Scheffler. “We’re halfway through, still a lot of golf left,” Thompson noted. “Just trying to stay in my own lane.”
After a delayed start to the year due to an unexpected hand injury, Scheffler seems to be finding his rhythm, even if his game appeared inconsistent at times in the pleasant weather along the Pacific coast. His round included a remarkable approach when he hit off the 12th tee, following up with a 50-yard chip shot back to the 11th green for an impressive par save. On the par-3 11th, his tee shot veered left, bounced twice on the cart path, and ended near a water station, allowing him to take free relief.
His round was defined by creativity and resilience; he sometimes had to maneuver skillfully to avoid potential hazards, particularly on the fourth hole where he just managed to stay upright while avoiding a sand trap. Despite struggles, he pulled off an eagle from a bunker on the par-5 sixth, landing three additional birdies for a total round of 67, placing him in the final pairing for Saturday.
“It’s great to see that I can still score even on a day when my striking wasn’t quite up to par,” Scheffler remarked. “The delicate shots tend to be the last to return after a break, so it’s encouraging to feel those skills coming back.” He later went to the range to refine his driver.
With Thompson now sitting at 8-under 136, he is set to play alongside Scheffler in the final group on Saturday. Denny McCarthy closed his round with a birdie, posting a score of 70. He will be matched up with McIlroy, who made his own move up the leaderboard by going 5-under through his first ten holes but faced challenges with his off-the-tee game on the more difficult holes. McIlroy managed to recover with two birdies but expressed disappointment for only making one birdie on the par-5 holes.
Overall, McIlroy’s score of 67 places him three shots behind the leader. “I hit a lot of good shots and scrambled well for the most part,” McIlroy said. “I just wish I’d capitalized more on the par 5s. I made gains in other areas, which was nice, but I need to improve on those holes going into the weekend.”
The Genesis Invitational, a signature event hosted by Tiger Woods (who is not participating this week), employs a cut after the first 36 holes, allowing the top 50 players and ties to advance. Among those failing to make the cut were Sepp Straka, who recently won in the California desert, and Jordan Spieth, who had just placed fourth in the previous week’s Phoenix Open. Max Homa also was unable to progress, marking his third straight missed cut this year.
While Scheffler showed his short game prowess throughout the day, Thompson’s game was characterized by skillful recovery. On the 10th hole, he executed a brilliant up-and-down for par, followed by two consecutive chip-in birdies. He briefly lost his lead with two bogeys but regained momentum with a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th and finished strong thanks to a well-placed wedge on the 18th hole.
Chasing the leaders is Ludvig Aberg, who shot a solid 66, drawing him closer to the top at four shots off the lead on a challenging course that he enjoys. After battling through a stomach illness that forced him to withdraw from Pebble Beach three weeks ago, Aberg is now finding his form, currently tied at 140 with Patrick Rodgers, who scored a 71.
