Rory McIlroy makes hilarious quip over Genesis Invitational prize money after missing top spot by one putt
Rory McIlroy couldn’t help but see the funny side after narrowly missing out on victory at the Genesis Invitational.
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman drained an impressive 30-footer on the final hole, only for playing partner Jacob Bridgeman to clinch the title moments later.
When a reporter asked whether it felt cruel to sink such a putt after the trophy had already slipped away, McIlroy responded with a laugh.
“No, not really. It probably earned me an extra $400,000 or $500,000, so it’s fine,” he said.
Rory McIlroy finished the tournament with an incredible 30-yard putt but it was not enough to dislodge Jacob Bridgeman at the top
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That final birdie actually boosted his prize money to a tidy $1.8 million.
The final putt meant McIlroy climbed into a tie for second alongside American Kurt Kitayama, with both players finishing on 17 under par.
Bridgeman held his nerve to finish one shot clear on 18 under, despite carding a one-over 72 in his final round.
McIlroy had started Sunday six shots adrift of the leader but produced some brilliant golf to close the gap.
His four-under 67 featured five birdies, including two on the closing holes, but it wasn’t quite enough to catch the reigning Masters champion.
Jacob Bridgeman held his nerve to finish one shot clear on 18 under, despite carding a one-over 72 in his final round
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By sharing second place, McIlroy and Kitayama split the prize money for those positions.
McIlroy’s putting let him down when it mattered most during the tournament.
He squandered several golden chances on the front nine, particularly at the 8th and 9th holes where birdie opportunities went begging.
At the 14th, his putt stopped agonisingly short by just inches – a moment that could have shifted momentum his way entirely.
The five-time major winner admitted he overthought his reads and failed to trust his instincts.
“I was almost just giving them too much thought and not going with my first instinct and that sort of cost me,” McIlroy told the PGA Tour.
It was only on the back nine that he rediscovered his touch on the greens.
Rory McIlroy chased Jacob Bridgeman all the way – despite plenty of shots ending in the bunker
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Despite the near miss, McIlroy was in positive spirits about his form heading into the coming weeks.
He recorded just three bogeys across the entire tournament, a marked improvement from his previous outing at Pebble Beach.
“My game feels in really good shape,” he said. “It’s feeling good – much better than it did in Dubai – which is a big step in the right direction.”
The world number two now has a week off before turning his attention to Bay Hill and The Players Championship.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot out of this West Coast Swing,” McIlroy added.
