It was a brilliant weekend for Irish golfers Shane Lowry and Seamus Power as the pair both posted impressive scores (and earned big pay days) at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. While an underwhelming weekend for Rory McIlroy saw him relegated to world number three, with tournament winner John Rahm taking the number one spot again.
Despite stiff competition from Max Homa and Patrick Cantlay, Spaniard and now world number one, John Rahm eventually won the PGA Tour event with a two-shot lead, finishing on 17 under. Rahm recorded first and third-round lows of 65 on the par 71 course, rounds that would eventually be the difference between himself and Homa who had been in contention since day one. While Rahm may have run away with the 3 million dollar purse, he didn't do so before Ireland's Lowry and Power got their share of the prize money, in what was a drama-packed weekend for the tour.
Speaking after winning the Genesis Invitational that propelled him to world no.1 and saw him match the record of Steve Ballesteros, Rahm was absolutely ecstatic telling the media,
I've never had three PGA Tour wins in a season and to do it this early on is incredible, and to do it at this golf course. Talk about the history of Riviera as a golf course, the history of Tiger Woods as a player, those two combined in this tournament, it's a pretty big deal
I know he [Seve Ballesteros] didn't play full-time PGA Tour and I know five of those were majors, but still to reach that milestone of double-digit wins is pretty incredible. To do it at a golf course with this legacy, this history and hosted by the man himself, Tiger Woods, it's a true honour. I can't really explain it.
😱 @JonRahmPGA is RIDICULOUS!
Nearly an ace and the closest of the day on 16. pic.twitter.com/As1nKRfeaD— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 19, 2023
While McIlroy might have struggled at the weekend fellow Irish golfers Shane Lowry and Seamus Power weren't having the same issues, with both golfers getting top 15 finishes and playing good golf. Lowry the 2019 champion golfer of the year, had a steady weekend posting scores of 69,69,71 and 68, which saw him miss out on a top-ten finish by just two shots, while Power shot a third-round low of 67 to finish his weekend in the same place. The Irish duo both finished on seven under, just enough to leave them tied for fourteenth. The two lads will be eating well this week.
30 June 2022; Seamus Power of Ireland, left, bumps fists with Shane Lowry of Ireland after a birdie putt on the ninth green during day one of the Horizon Irish Open Golf Championship at Mount Juliet Golf Club in Thomastown, Kilkenny. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
For Rory things weren't so peachy.. Setting out with Woods and Thomas he posted an opening round 67 which saw Rory put himself right in contention for the lead, before coming out on Friday and keeping himself there, however, a third-round 73 and fourth-round par saw him nose dive out of contention, blowing any chance he had at catching the lead. He eventually finished tied for 29th on four under par.
Genesis Invitational earnings
- Jon Rahm: $3,600,000
- Max Homa: $2,180,000
- Patrick Cantlay: $1,380,000
- T14 - Shane Lowry - $355,000
- T14 - Seamus Power - $355,000
- T29 - Rory McIlroy - $144,000
The weekend also saw golf legend Tiger Woods return for all 72 holes of the Genesis Invitational, his first competitive competition since last year's Open Championship. The 69 Tiger shot on Thursday proved to be the peak for Woods as footage of him handing a tampon to friend and fellow competitor Justin Thomas caused controversy. Things never picked back up for Tiger after that, shooting a three-over second round and barely making the cut, before finishing his weekend off tied for 45th. It was brilliant to see Woods back playing competitive golf.
