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Genesis Invitational Round 1 Suspended, With Rai Leading and Scheffler Tied for Last

Originally posted on DailyClubGolf | By Krushna Pattnaik | Last updated Feb 20, 2026 1:18 AM ET

The 2026 Genesis Invitational couldn’t even complete the first round on Thursday. The game got suspended at 8:41 pm ET because of darkness. But the leaderboard came with a surprise for Aaron Rai and Scottie Scheffler.

After heavy rain caused a three-hour delay on Thursday, 34 players are left to complete their rounds on Friday. And the last group off the tee finished only nine holes. Nevertheless, we still have a dominant name on top of the leaderboard.

As the PGA Tour announced the first round’s suspension, Rai grabbed the solo lead with a birdie on the par-3 16th for a six-under shot. If he actually wins the tournament, it’d be his second PGA Tour win. But how did Scottie Scheffler perform?

Well, the world number one’s performance was nowhere near his title. He tied for the last position (T71). Through the first ten holes, Scheffler made three bogeys and a double bogey. This unimpressive performance put him beside Keegan Bradley at five-over.

However, Scheffler still has eight more holes to play and conclude the first round. Despite the terrible start, we can expect the 29-year-old to overcome his Thursday troubles and rise higher in the leaderboard.

The first round of The Genesis Invitational was suspended due to darkness at 5:41 p.m. PT.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) February 20, 2026

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Jacob Bridgeman shared the second position after hitting a five-under 66.

The suspension adds another variable. Players who return early to complete Round 1 will need to quickly transition into Round 2 with minimal rest. Meanwhile, those who have already finished will benefit from a more traditional reset. Weather and daylight logistics could influence scoring patterns over the next 24 hours, particularly if morning conditions prove more favorable.

But the weather didn’t trouble the Genesis Invitational for the first time.

How Was the Weather at the Genesis Invitational Last Year?

Because of the horrific Los Angeles wildfires, the 2025 Genesis Invitational was moved to Torrey Pines. But this shift forced the players to face a completely different phenomenon. They had to put on a rain suit and swing on a water-logged course after heavy rainfall.

Well, the storm didn’t cause a downpour. It was a drizzle that drenched the course and the players. On top of that, the Pacific wind further dropped the temperature. However, Scottie Scheffler managed to shake that off and shoot a two-under 70.

Speaking of his performance last year, Scheffler said, “I felt like I did a lot of good stuff out there, I got off to a really good start and hung in there from there. Weather conditions were changing a bunch, and we dealt with a lot of different elements today.”

Nevertheless, there’s still a high chance that things might get better for Scheffler in the next eight holes. But can he claim a top-10 position after finishing the first round?

This article first appeared on DailyClubGolf and was syndicated with permission.

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