When Streaks End: Scheffler and McIlroy’s Contrasting Weeks at Riviera

Eighteen consecutive top-10 finishes. Let that sink in for a moment. Scottie Scheffler had been finishing in the top 10 of every PGA Tour event he entered since last year’s Players Championship, a span of 343 days. It was the longest such streak in the modern era, dating back to 1983.

But Riviera, that beautiful and befuddling course in Pacific Palisades, finally broke the spell. Scheffler finished T12 at 11-under, just one shot away from extending the streak. His final putt on 18, a 21-footer for birdie that would have gotten him into the top 10, stopped an inch from the cup.

“This place and I have like a weird relationship,” Scheffler said after his second round. “I feel like I can play so well out here and I just haven’t yet.”

The damage was done Thursday when Scheffler stumbled to a 3-over 74, going 5-over through his first 10 holes. It was the worst start of his career, and he spent the rest of the week clawing back. He shot 68 on Friday, 66 on Saturday and closed with a 6-under 65 on Sunday that included six birdies over his final 12 holes.

A Familiar Pattern at an Unfamiliar Place

What makes Scheffler’s struggles at Riviera particularly interesting is the company he keeps. Tiger Woods never won there. Jack Nicklaus never won there. Now the greatest player of this generation can’t quite figure it out either.

Scheffler didn’t have much of an explanation beyond the conditions. Thursday afternoon was brutal, with wind whipping through the canyon and the poa annua greens getting bumpier as the day wore on. When he got morning tee times on Friday and Saturday, he took advantage.

“It’s easier playing in the morning than it is late in the day,” he said. “Took advantage of it. Then I had another solid day today.”

The streak ending at Riviera feels almost poetic. If there was going to be a place that stumped Scheffler, it makes sense that it would be the same course that stumped two of the game’s all-time greats.

McIlroy’s Continued Excellence

While Scheffler’s streak ended, Rory McIlroy’s strong play continued. He finished T2 at 17-under, his best result at The Genesis Invitational in 10 tries. His previous best was T4 in 2019.

McIlroy played in the final group with Bridgeman, who started the day with a six-shot lead. The Northern Irishman made a valiant charge on the back nine with four birdies, but it wasn’t quite enough. He was seeking his 30th PGA Tour victory and instead collected his 13th runner-up finish.

“I just kept plugging away and trying to make something happen,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I could have made something happen on the front nine if I holed a few putts but I didn’t.”

McIlroy was gracious in defeat, praising Bridgeman’s composure down the stretch. He also acknowledged his own missed opportunities, particularly a 27-hole stretch from Saturday’s round through Sunday’s front nine where he failed to capitalize on chances.

The Poa Annua Factor

Both players dealt with the quirks of Riviera’s poa annua greens, which can be unpredictable and bumpy, especially late in the day. McIlroy admitted he was overthinking his reads on the front nine Sunday, watching Bridgeman’s putts and trying to factor in what he saw rather than trusting his instincts.

“Once I started to trust my reads a bit on the back nine and I went more with my first instinct, I putted a little bit better,” he said.

Scheffler was more blunt about the conditions Thursday. “The greens were so bumpy and so fast, it was a complete crapshoot whether or not the ball was going to get in the hole,” he said.

Looking Ahead

Both players head into the next stretch of the season in strong form despite the results at Riviera. McIlroy feels his game is in similar shape to last year when he won at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship before contending at the Masters.

“I’m looking forward to getting on some Bermuda greens over the next couple weeks,” he said.

Scheffler’s next start is expected to be at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, followed by The Players Championship. He’s won both events twice, and nobody would be surprised if he started another lengthy streak.

For one week at least, Riviera reminded us that even the best players in the world are human. Streaks end. Close calls happen. And sometimes a golf course just doesn’t fit, no matter how good you are.