PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Jon Rahm played his way into the final group on the PGA Tour for the third straight week. Only this time he has grabbed the lead, shooting a bogey-free 6-under 65 at Riviera Country Club on Saturday to assume a three-stroke lead over Max Homa heading into the final round of the Genesis Invitational.
“Really proud of today, heck of a round of golf,” said Rahm, who shot the only bogey-free round of the day. “Took advantage of a couple good lies in the rough and made every putt that I needed to keep the round going, highlighted by the one on 13.”
The 28-year-old Rahm made four birdies on the front nine, including drilling his tee shot at the 245-yard par-3 fourth to 7 feet and rolling in the putt. He added a birdie at No. 11 and capped off the day with a 24-foot birdie putt at 18.
“I’ve seen that putt hit a million times and we all leave it just a couple, a couple rolls short, so I just wanted to get it there,” he said. “To be able to make one and extend the lead going into tomorrow, it’s a big bonus.”
Rahm shot 65 for the third time in his last four rounds at Riviera dating to 2022’s final day, and improved to 15-under 198. He is in striking distance of Lanny Wadkins’ 72-hole tournament scoring record, which has stood since 1985.
Rahm, who entered the week No. 3 in the world, fell short of winning the titles at the Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open, but this time, he’s the frontrunner.
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“Somebody’s going to come out tomorrow, and somebody’s going to shoot a round of 4, 5, 6, 7 under. It happens every single tournament we play in, right, so I have to be aware that somebody’s going to make a run and I’m going to have to shoot a 60s round for sure to give myself a chance to win as well,” he said. “Just aware that I need to keep doing what I’ve been doing until now.”
Rahm is seeking his 10th career PGA Tour title and would become the first player to win three times this season. It would also set a career high for wins in a season for Rahm. He noted it would be special to win on Sunday.
“The fact that Tiger is the host, the fact that he’s out here playing and the history of this golf course as a venue is two reasons why I would love to be able to win here,” he said. “It’s a very select group of champions, and you’ll join a list of champions that frankly Tiger and Jack (Nicklaus) have never joined, which probably never happens on any other golf course but this one, right?”
Can Homa be the comeback kid again?
Max Homa hits from the fourth hole tee during the third round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Max Homa already had his L.A. story at this tournament, winning in a sudden-death playoff in 2021. But the Valencia, California native from about 30 miles away is liking the way things are setting up for a sequel on Sunday.
Homa fired 2-under 69 in the third round and will enter Sunday in second place, three strokes behind Jon Rahm. That’s a decent amount of ground to make up on one of the hottest players in the game, but Homa’s last five wins have been in come-from-behind fashion. Can he do it again?
“I’ve done it, gives me confidence, I guess,” he said. “It’s a bit of a different test with Jon. He played very flawless golf today. But I feel like I have haven’t really matched everything up yet this week minus the first day, and even then I felt like I could have driven it a little better.
“I’m encouraged, I’m excited to do that tomorrow. I’m going to have to play a really good round of golf. This place is tricky. I know it very well and I feel like I’ll know when to pick my spots. I’m trusting in everything I’m doing right now, which I think is the key, so I feel good. “
Homa was cruising along with a share of the lead before he made back-to-back bogeys at 15 and 16. Still, he recorded his 14th consecutive round at par or better at Riviera during the Genesis and will be seeking his seventh career Tour title. He also has a chance to become the first player to notch three wins this season.
“Chasing down the hottest golfer on the planet, it’s an exciting opportunity,” Homa said. “Final group at Riviera, it’s awesome. Today was a really fun day of golf. Yeah, I relish it. It’s exciting. It’s an opportunity, and I think in this life it’s just about opportunities, getting them and then when you have them, take advantage. So I’m excited to test myself with that.”
Mitchell stays in the mix
Keith Mitchell hits from the fourth hole tee during the third round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Keith Mitchell is alone in third after recording his third consecutive round in the 60s. On Saturday, he made three birdies and one bogey at the last to post 2-under 69. He’ll enter the final round four strokes behind Jon Rahm as he chases his second Tour title.
“To play 16 good holes without making a mistake is really all you’re looking for in the last group on Saturday,” Mitchell said. “Jon played amazing, so I’m going to have to really do something special tomorrow to catch up to him.”
Watch out for Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay plays his shot on the twelfth hole fairway during the third round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Cantlay is the other Southern California kid on the leaderboard. Cantlay attended UCLA and has spoken effusively of his love for Riviera. He’d love to add this title to his trophy case. On Saturday, he lost ground to leader Jon Rahm but posted 3-under 68 and is alone in fourth place, five strokes back.
Cantlay has made only three bogeys all week —two of them at the difficult par-3, fourth —and if he can get his putter to heat up, he could be the player to put some pressure on Rahm.
“You have to get off to a hot start with 1, and if you can make some birdies early on on this golf course, you get some more chances in the middle of the round and I’ll aim to do that tomorrow,” he said.
McCarthy's sizzling round, Morikawa's scoring streak at Riv ends, and McIlroy backs up
Denny McCarthy of the United States lines up a putt on the 17th green during the third round of the The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 18, 2023 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Denny McCarthy fired the low round of the day, a 7-under 64. It marked just his second score in the 60s in 11 rounds at Riviera CC (69/R1/2020). He improved to 7-under 206 and is T-6 heading into the final round.
Collin Morikawa snapped his streak of rounds in the 60s at Riviera CC with a 72 (+1) in his fourth start in the event, where he finished runner-up in 2022.
Tiger Woods’s eagle on the par-5 1st hole was his 189th eagle on Tour and ninth at The Genesis Invitational. His last three eagles have all come at the first hole at Riviera CC (most recent: R4/2020 Genesis Invitational).
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy slipped 11 positions from T7 to T18, recording 2-over 73. It included a three-putt bogey from 6 feet at the par-5 11th hole. McIlroy made only one birdie at the 17th hole.
