Denny McCarthy made an eagle on his final hole to card a 4-under-par 68 and set the first-round pace at the Genesis Invitational on Thursday in San Diego.
Patrick Rodgers and Ireland’s Seamus Power are one shot behind and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is two back at the unusually rain-soaked Torrey Pines Golf Course.
The signature event is being played at Torrey Pines rather than Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club because of last month’s wildfires that caused extensive damage to the Los Angeles area.
Uncharacteristic wet and windy conditions in San Diego kept scores down in the first round. Only 19 of the 72 players in the field shot even par or better.
“It was chillier yesterday, a little rainier, a little windier, and it was out of a similar direction,” McCarthy said. “So as it wasn’t that much fun to be out there from 1:00 to 5:30 yesterday, I think it was good preparation for today.”
McCarthy, 31, has yet to win on the PGA Tour but qualified for the signature event via the FedEx Cup standings from 2024.
He was 1 under par through 16 holes before draining a 25-foot birdie putt at No. 17 and then reaching the green in two shots at the par-5 18th. He had just 7 feet and change for eagle and made the left-to-right putt to move in front.
“It’s a very difficult golf course. I enjoy the challenge of it,” McCarthy said. “I’m not the longest of hitters, but you’ve got to keep it in the fairway. I didn’t do that for a couple holes coming in, I got some decent breaks, I managed to save some good pars.”
Scheffler was in contention early after marking down four birdies and a bogey through his first seven holes. He petered out after that, missing a handful of fairways and greens in regulation before adding his second bogey of the day at No. 14.
He had a chance for birdie at No. 18 but his 4-footer lipped out, leading to a three-putt par.
At 2-under 70, he is tied for fourth with Wyndham Clark and Davis Thompson.
“I think it’s really fun,” Scheffler said of the rain, despite his finish. “I think on tour sometimes you always see golf courses in their best conditions, typically with the best weather.”
Power recovered from a bogey at No. 2 with four birdies the rest of the way, while Rodgers also finished strong after an early bogey, birdieing three of the last five holes.
“It’s been a long time obviously since I played a lot of golf in Ireland,” Power said. “But mentality becomes the biggest thing. It’s pretty easy to get down and to get a bit like mad at everything, the conditions and everything is harder today. It’s just to kind of somehow keep your head in it and stay positive somehow and just get through it.”
Power is hunting for his third PGA Tour title, while Rodgers, a 32-year-old tour vet, still seeks his first.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is part of a tie at even-par 72. Viktor Hovland of Norway, Tom Kim of South Korea, Irishman Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are at 1-over 73. Jordan Spieth, Max Homa and Tony Finau were among those to finish at 4-over 76.
There will be no 36-hole cut as all players in the field will play all four rounds.
–Field Level Media
