Genesis Invitational 2023: Rahm wins his 3rd PGA Title
For the second time in as many weeks, a victory in a big PGA Tour event has led to a new No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings. Here our Genesis Invitational 2023 Recap!
Jon Rahm ended up winning his third PGA Tour title of 2023 and his fifth in his previous nine starts worldwide with a two-shot victory over hometown favorite Max Homa in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.
“This was a tough week and a tough Sunday,” Rahm said. “Pretty incredible [though], to win at a golf course with this legacy, this history, and hosted by Tiger Woods is such an honor.”
Woods played in all four rounds of a tournament for the first time since the 2022 Masters, finishing tied for 45th at -1. He is the host of this tournament and presented Rahm with the trophy after his win.
“Jon is the best player in the world, and he showed exactly why,” Woods said. “The heart, the grit, and the fight–that’s one of the things that we’re coming to learn about Jon.
“So, please, understand and respect how good this guy is. He’s just getting started in his career, and we all get a chance to watch it.”
Homa, who won in his home state of California in September and three weeks ago at Torrey Pines, was at or near the top of the leaderboard all tournament long. After starting the day three shots behind Rahm, the two were all square going into the final five holes.
It was at that point when Rahm took control. He sank a 45-foot putt on No. 14 and hit his tee shot on the par-3 16th to within two feet of the cup for another birdie. Rahm ended up with a 2-under 69 on the day and a 17-under 267 for the tournament. Homa’s 68 on Sunday left him two shots behind as runner-up.
It was a difficult loss for Homa. He won here two years ago, but due to COVID-19 regulations at the time, there were none of his family or friends in attendance at the course where he came to watch the PGA Tour pros growing up.
“I’m very proud. I did not have it off the tee today, but man, I fought,” Homa said. “I’m not disappointed in my golf, I’m just disappointed in the ending. When I won in ’21, nobody was here and it hurts me not to be able to do that with everyone here—my family and friends.”
Patrick Cantlay finished third at -14, and after shooting a 64 on Sunday, Will Zalatoris jumped up six sports on the leaderboard to finish fourth. Keith Mitchell rounded out the top five at -12. Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa wound up tied for sixth.
Scottie Scheffler, who had a one-week reign atop the OWGR, finished tied for 12th.
Up Next
The PGA Tour heads to Florida for the next four weeks, starting with The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens. The tour is coming off two designated events and has two more in the coming weeks (Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship), so many of the top stars are taking this week off. Sepp Straka is in the field and is the defending champion.
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