By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
LOS ANGELES — Thousands of fans watching Tiger Woods in his 2024 debut missed out on the best golf Thursday at the Genesis Invitational. In the group ahead of Woods was Patrick Cantlay, looking as though he wants to be the next Southern California native to win at Riviera.
Cantlay, a former UCLA and Servite High standout, opened with three birdies in four holes and never really slowed until a sycamore tree halted his great run. He still managed a 7-under-par 64, giving him a one-shot lead.
Jason Day and Luke List played bogey-free for a 65, and they were joined by Cam Davis of Australia, who birdied three of his last five holes.
Jordan Spieth started as strongly as Cantlay and had to settle for a 66.
The smallest field at Riviera – 70 players as a signature event – left no shortage of entertainment. The most memorable was Woods hitting a shank from the middle of the 18th fairway and then the same club – 8-iron – to squeeze a shot through a small opening in the eucalyptus trees and onto the green. He made bogey and shot a 72.
Justin Thomas had to play a shot off the concrete boundary wall of the driving range for it to ricochet back toward the rough. Sam Burns was headed toward a big number when he left a shot in the bunker behind the 10th green, only to hole out for a par that was so unlikely he flung his putter toward his bag.
Not to be overlooked was Rory McIlroy, who was poised to be closer to the top until he went double bogey-triple bogey on the back nine, the latter on the par-3 16th when he left one in the bunker and then three-putted from 8 feet.
Cantlay – and for most of the day, Spieth, who played alongside him – made it look simple. Both went out in 30 to set the pace.
“Our group had good momentum,” Cantlay said. “Jordan and I were a bunch under on the front nine and a day where I putted really, really well. Made every putt I should have and a couple longer ones. It was a good…
Read the full article here
