Denny McCarthy takes lead in California

The Genesis Invitational R1

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Denny McCarthy closed with an eagle at the par-5 18th following five birdies and three bogeys to take the lead with a 4-under 68 at the Genesis Invitational.

“I haven’t played here in four years, it’s been a while since I’ve been here,” said the American. “It is very difficult, especially with the rain and the rough length. The rough’s gnarly and the rain makes it even more difficult. Even though the greens are soft, it’s still hard to — they’re so pitched, they put some really tough flags today, it was still really hard to get close to certain flags, especially with the wind direction.

“It’s a very difficult golf course. I enjoy the challenge of it. I’m not the longest of hitters, but you’ve got to keep it in the fairway. I didn’t do that for a couple holes coming in, I got some decent breaks, I managed to same some good pars. It’s a very difficult golf course. I like it a lot, it’s very challenging and I’m looking forward to the next couple days.”

McCarthy has finished runner-up twice on the PGA Tour, at the 2023 Memorial Tournament where he lost in a playoff to Viktor Hovland and at the 2024 Valero Texas Open where he lost in a playoff to Akshay Bhatia, but has yet to win after 193 events on Tour.

Highlights | Round 1 | The Genesis Invitational | 2025

Ireland’s Seamus Power is tied in second place at 3-under alongside American Patrick Rodgers after both made four birdies and a bogey for a 69.

World number 1 Scottie Scheffler fired four birdies and two bogeys for a share of fourth place at 2-under alongside fellow American Wyndham Clark.

Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan opens with a 2-over 74 and sits T25

The three player-hosted Signature Events (The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament) are the only Signature Events that feature a 36-hole cut (the low 50 and ties and any additional players within 10 strokes of the 36-hole lead); 68 players (including leader Denny McCarthy) enter the second round within 10 strokes of the lead.

Pos.PlayerTo ParR1
1Denny McCarthy-468
T2Seamus Power-369
T2Patrick Rodgers-369
T4Davis Thompson-270
T4Wyndham Clark-270
T4Scottie Scheffler-270
T7Nick Dunlap-171
T7Sam Burns-171
T7Nico Echavarria-171
T7Jake Knapp-171
T7Andrew Novak-171
T7Min Woo Lee-171
T7Michael Kim-171
T14Corey ConnersPar72
T14Sahith TheegalaPar72
T14Russell HenleyPar72
T14Aaron RaiPar72
T14Rory McIlroyPar72
T14Sam StevensPar72
T20Justin Thomas+173
T20Viktor Hovland+173
T20Tom Kim+173
T20Shane Lowry+173
T20Collin Morikawa+173
T25Ben Griffin+274
T25Kevin Yu+274
T25Taylor Pendrith+274
T25Si Woo Kim+274
T25Adam Scott+274
T25Mackenzie Hughes+274
T25Keegan Bradley+274
T25Sungjae Im+274
T25Patrick Cantlay+274
T25Ludvig Åberg+274
T25Matt Fitzpatrick+274
T25Will Zalatoris+274
T25Hideki Matsuyama+274
T25Nick Taylor+274
T25Lucas Glover+274
T40Mark Hubbard+375
T40Akshay Bhatia+375
T40J.T. Poston+375
T40Byeong Hun An+375
T40Billy Horschel+375
T40Daniel Berger+375
T40Justin Rose+375
T40Tommy Fleetwood+375
T40Stephan Jaeger+375
T40Harris English+375
T40Maverick McNealy+375
T51Christiaan Bezuidenhout+476
T51Robert MacIntyre+476
T51Tony Finau+476
T51Gary Woodland+476
T51Brian Harman+476
T51Max Homa+476
T51Jason Day+476
T51Thomas Detry+476
T51Jordan Spieth+476
T51J.J. Spaun+476
T61Tom Hoge+577
T61Cam Davis+577
T61Rickie Fowler+577
T61Max Greyserman+577
T65Sepp Straka+678
T65Eric Cole+678
T65Austin Eckroat+678
T65Cameron Young+678
T69Matthieu Pavon+779
T69Danny List+779
71Rasmus Højgaard+1082
72Adam Hadwin+1183
Updated: February 14, 2025
Genesis Invitational 2025
Date: 13th February - 16th February, 2025
Location: Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), San Diego, California
Purse: $20,000,000