We have reached the halfway stage of the Genesis Invitational and golf fans all across the world are in for a treat as some of the best players on the PGA Tour are gathered near the top of the leaderboard.
With close to $4 million up for grabs for the player that finishes first, you can be assured that there will be plenty of twists and turns over the next few days of action.
Despite changing conditions, Davis Thompson leads through the first two rounds
The Genesis Invitational is one of eight Signature Events that the PGA Tour holds. Reserved for the elite of the PGA Tour, it is an opportunity for some of the game’s best players to steal the spotlight and build on their legacies.
However, despite the star-studded field who have gathered in San Diego there is a surprise name at the top of the leaderboard and that is Davis Thompson.
Through the first 36 holes it is Thompson that has led from the jump and his achievement of keeping the very best players in the world at bay is even more remarkable given the fact that the conditions through the first few rounds have been incredibly tough.
Swirling rain and wind greeted the players in their opening round and of the 70 man strong field, only eight players were able to end the day under par and it was Thompson who was leading the way.
A gritty -2 round set the American up beautifully to make the most of the better scoring conditions that welcomed the players during the second round. Signing off for a second round 66, the world number 52 has a slim one stroke lead over the rest of the field, but the hard work has only just begun.
All eyes on Scottie Scheffler as he makes his move
It’s been an indifferent start to the 2025 PGA Tour season for Scottie Scheffler. Having to postpone the start of his campaign due to having to have surgery to remove glass from his hand, the world number one teed it up for the first time this season at the AT&T Championship and ground his way to yet another top ten finish.
Looking to build on that effort he headed to the desert of Arizona where he looked to capture a third Phoenix Open in the last four years.
Always behind the eight ball, he started his final round with ground to make up but as can so often be his way, he made his charge up the front nine and as he made the turn he was within touching distance of the leaders. With many expecting him to push on, Scheffler’s game then deserted him and he would go onto drop six shots up the back nine to end up in a tie for 25th place.
Not used to seeing him fall so tamely away, Scheffler has had a determined look this week as he seeks to get on the board and win a first title of 2025.
Like Thompson, Scheffler played some superb golf in the opening round of the tournament despite the awful weather and it set him up perfectly to climb the leaderboard further during the second round.
A bogey free round of 67 saw him pick up five shots and ensured that he would start the third round just one behind Thompson. So far through his first two starts of the season Scheffler hasn’t quite been able to string four great rounds together. With many expecting him to take this tournament by the scruff of the neck, it will be interesting to see how his game holds up to the pressure.
Serene McIlroy eases himself into contention
Despite making waves off the course with the launch of TGL and his comments about the current state of professional golf, on the course Rory McIlroy has been a picture of calm and serenity.
Having started his season earlier than most of his American rivals due to his DP World Tour commitments, McIlroy has arrived back stateside and looks as if he is playing some of the very best golf of his career.
So often we have seen McIlroy come unstuck by mistakes but so far this season the four time major winner has been playing well within himself and the results have been impressive.
A dominant winner of the AT&T Championship, his victory was his first Signature Event win and with that taste now in his mouth, it looks like the Northern Irishman wants more.
Despite being a little ragged during his opening round, McIlroy battled back against the conditions and was able to end his first round at even par. Seeing that as a positive outcome, he was another player who looked at ease on Torrey Pines famed South Course, carding a 67 which included seven birdies and two bogeys.
With his win at Pebble Beach a few weeks ago, McIlroy is exuding confidence and with him starting today three shots back he will be more than confident of turning around the deficit he currently is facing. He will be wanting to showcase to the world that he can beat Scottie Scheffler and become the dominant force in men’s golf once again. He has a fantastic opportunity to do exactly that this weekend.
Ludvig Aberg will want to continue the European theme of dominance on the PGA Tour
As 2025 is a Ryder Cup year there will be plenty of excitement and chatter surrounding those expecting to play in the bi-annual showdown later this year.
Winning away in the Ryder Cup is becoming harder by the year and this year it is the Europeans that will head to New York and the fearsome Bethpage Black as they try to retain the trophy they won in Rome almost two years ago.
Luke Donald is the man who the Europeans have appointed to try and steer them to glory and through the first month and a half of the PGA season he would have been delighted with what he has seen.
Sepp Straka was able to claim victory at the American Express, McIlroy crushed the field at Pebble Beach and Thomas Detry announced himself as a Ryder Cup hopeful by shocking the field at last week's Phoenix Open.
One of the men who Donald is bound to be relying on in New York is Ludvig Aberg. A sensational Captain’s Pick two years ago, since then Aberg has quickly risen to become one of the best players in the world.
A dark horse for victory this week, he showed he could dominate the South Course at the Farmers Insurance Open just a few weeks ago. Illness derailed his bid for success then, but now back to full health, the result could well be different this time around.
The sensational Swede is currently sitting four strokes off the lead but worked his way back into contention thanks to a superb second round 66.
Yet to land a tournament of real note, this could be the week that announces Aberg as a genuine force in the game and he is a name to watch during moving day.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
