Many moved in the right direction on Moving Day at the 2025 Genesis Invitational, but perhaps most surprising was those who did not. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and world No. 3 Rory McIlroy went backwards in the third round at Torrey Pines; they could only watch as Patrick Rodgers raced by them to grab the 54-hole lead at 8 under.
Known best for his collegiate records and amateur career, Rodgers possesses a one-stroke advantage over another player searching for his first PGA Tour title. Playing alongside McIlroy, Denny McCarthy held his own in the penultimate group and finds himself in a position once again to threaten the winner’s circle.
While Rodgers raced up the leaderboard and McCarthy managed around Torrey Pines, the lack of push from overnight leader Davis Thompson — and stars such as Scheffler and McIlroy — have invited other players to the party. Ludvig Åberg has dominated the par 3s thus far playing them in 8 under, including an ace on Saturday, and stands just a couple off the 54-hole pace.
A bit further adrift are names such as Tony Finau, Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood, who sit three back with Justin Thomas and Maverick McNealy rounding out the top 10. Finau’s 67 made for the round of the day, while Cantlay’s 66 matched that of Rodgers.
The lack of trophies has not been for the lack of trying for Rodgers. Holding the 54-hole lead four previous times in his career — including his first, which came at Torrey Pines in 2017 — the former Stanford standout has come agonizingly close to raising the first trophy over his decade-plus tenure on the PGA Tour.
With 286 starts under his belt, the 32-year-old has faced almost everything and experienced almost everything golf has to offer. He can add to that list on Sunday in a positive manner with a mighty win against the mightiest of the game’s titans.
“Instead of playing with a lot of expectation, I need to play to achieve,” Rodgers said. “That’s what I’ve always set out to do, and it kind of felt like — early in my career with the amateur resume that I had — I felt like there was a lot expected of myself internally. And it was something where, when immediate success, immediate wins didn’t come straight away, it was kind of fighting who I saw myself to be. …
“So, instead of playing with a monkey on your back that gets bigger and bigger over time when it doesn’t happen, I’m trying to play from a perspective that feels fresh and new and exciting and full of opportunity because that’s what this game is. And I have a great one [Sunday].”
The leader
1. Patrick Rodgers (-8): Rodgers ranks third (among active players without a PGA Tour win) with 27 top-10 finishes — coincidentally the same number as McCarthy — and he will try his damnedest on Sunday to get off that list. He was simply sensational for 17 holes on Saturday playing them in 5 under and a bogey-free fashion.
In position to expand the lead out to 10 under on the par-5 finisher, Rodgers made the inexplicable mistake of dumping his third shot into the water protecting the front of the green. He did well to make bogey from there, but he also let a whole lot of players back into this tournament.
Contenders
2. Denny McCarthy (-7)
3. Ludvig Åberg (-6)
T4. Tony Finau, Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood, Davis Thompson (-4)
T8. Scottie Scheffer, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Nico Echavarria, Maverick McNealy (-3)
T13. Hideki Matsuyama, Nick Taylor, Michael Kim (-2)
Åberg immediately gave one back after draining his ace on the third hole, but he nevertheless finished 2 under for the day to solidify himself in the third spot on the leaderboard. We have seen him come close but fall short multiple times during his young career, but his pedigree is legitimate, and this tournament is his for the taking.
Scheffler’s score of 76 was better than zero (!) players on Saturday with only his playing partner matching it. The world No. 1 was far from his best, and while he did drive it better than Friday, Scheffler struggled everywhere else. He penciled three 6s on his scorecard, including a pair on par 5s, as short misses entered into his game. Despite all of this, Scheffler is still within shouting distance and has a chance to climb back from five behind like he did a couple times en route to victory in 2024.
What went wrong for Rory?
McIlroy had his fair share of scoring chances early as he missed three birdie bids from inside 12 feet on Nos. 2-4. He arrived at the easy par-5 6th with a chance to score again, but instead of adding a circle to his scorecard, he notched a square as he needed three putts from the front part of the putting surface. The putting woes and par-5 struggles, which have hindered him all week, persisted into the back nine and put McIlroy behind the eight ball as he seeks his second win in as many starts on the PGA Tour this season.
The signature event stallions
Something special is going to have to happen on Sunday for McIlroy, Scheffler or Matsuyama to enter the winner’s circle after their performances on Moving Day. Over the last 12 months — and the last eight signature events — only three men have raised trophies at the PGA Tour’s biggest tournaments: Scheffler (four times), McIlroy (twice) and Matsuyama (twice). Either this list will add a new member, or this threesome will add to its winning ways in the most dramatic of fashions.
2025 Genesis Invitational updated odds, picks
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Ludvig Åberg: 3-1
- Patrick Rodgers: 7/2
- Denny McCarthy: 7/2
- Scottie Scheffler: 11-1
- Rory McIlroy: 14-1
- Patrick Cantlay: 14-1
- Tommy Fleetwood: 16-1
- Tony Finau: 18-1
McCarthy’s round alongside McIlroy was so impressive, especially the middle portion where he rattled off four birdies in a five-hole stretch. He struck the ball beautifully on the back nine but battled an uncharacteristic balky putter and let some chances fall by the wayside. The putting maestro will right those wrongs on Sunday and finally grab his first victory on the PGA Tour (or Scheffler comes back from five strokes at 11-1).
