CLEMSON, S.C. — Former two-time Clemson All-American Jacob Bridgeman shot a final round 72 to win the 100th playing of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Bridgeman won the event on the par 71 course with a 72-hole score of 18-under-par 266, one shot better than Kurt Kitayama and Rory McIlroy.
It was Bridgeman’s first win on the PGA Tour, his first tournament win since winning the ACC Tournament as a Clemson Tiger in April of 2022. He won the tournament against a field that included 18 of the top 20 and 41 of the top 50 players in the world.
Bridgeman had a six-shot lead entering the final round after rounds of 66-64-64 for a 19-under par score. He had a six-shot lead over McIlroy, who entered the tournament as the world’s number-two ranked player.
Bridgeman made birdie on the first and third holes on Sunday to move to 21-under-par and a seven-shot lead. But he did not make another birdie the rest of the round. While he played the final 12 holes in three-over par, McIlroy and Kitayama gained ground. The 2022 Clemson graduate came to the final hole needing a par to win. After hitting his drive in the fairway, he hit his second shot with a seven iron to 20 feet from the hole. He had to make a three-and-a-half footer for par to win.
“This is way better than I ever dreamed,” said Bridgeman as he talked to CBS announcer Amanda Balionis on the green immediately after winning. “I thought it was going to be a lot easier. It was early, until I had the putt on 16. Then it got really hard. I made it as hard as I could have.
“I couldn’t feel my hands on the last couple of greens. On the last putt I just wanted to hit it somewhere near the hole and I left it a mile short. But, fortunately I made the final putt. I am glad it is over.”
For the week, Bridgeman was first in the field of 72 player in strokes gained putting, first in greens in regulation (77.8 percent), first in strokes gained on approach, and second in birdies with 21. He was also tied for first in eagles with three.
Bridgeman won $4 million, the most money earned in a single tournament by a former Clemson golfer. He received the trophy from tournament host, Tiger Woods. Bridgeman vaulted to first place on the FedX Cup list with the victory. He has now played in five events this year and has finished in the top 20 in all five. It is the longest top 20 streak of his career.
Bridgeman was the first first-time winner of the Genesis (previously the LA Open) since Pat Fitzsimmons in 1975. His 18-under-par score was just two shots off the tournament record that had been set by Lanny Wadkins in 1985.
Bridgeman was a four-year starter for the Clemson golf program between 2018-22. He played his first three years under Larry Penley and his final year under current head coach Jordan Byrd. For his career the native of Inman, SC had a 70.74 stroke average, second in Clemson history to Doc Redman’s 70.70.
Bridgeman and Redman now have major victories at the famed Riviera Country Club. Redman won the 2017 US Amateur there and now Bridgeman has won the Genesis Invitational nine years later.
Bridgeman won five tournaments over his Clemson career, tied for the most in school history with D.J. Trajan and Chris Patton. His list of victories included the 2022 ACC Tournament when he shot 13-under par at Shark’s Tooth in Panama City, FL to beat Peter Fountain of North Carolina on the second extra hole.
His senior year he was the ACC Player of the Year, won the ACC Tournament and was named the ACC Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year. He was just the second ACC golfer to win all three in the same year. He was named the ACC Golf Scholar Athlete if the Year twice, one of just two golfers in ACC history to win that award twice.
Bridgeman becomes the eighth different former Clemson golfer to win a tournament on the PGA Tour. He is the sixth Clemson golfer who is a product of the South Carolina Junior Golf Program to win on the PGA Tour. Other Clemson golfers to win on the PGA Tour include Lucas Glover (7), Jonathan Byrd (5), Clarence Rose (2), D.J. Trahan (2), Kyle Stanley (2), Ben Martin (1) and Dillard Pruitt (1).
