Genesis Invitational Final Round Leaderboard
-12 L Aberg (Swe); -11 M McNealy (US); -9 P Rodgers (US), S Scheffler (US); -8 T Finau (US), D McCarthy (US), T Fleetwood (Eng), P Cantlay (US)
Selected others: -3 R McIlroy (NI); +2 S Lowry (Ire); +5 M Fitzpatrick
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg spectacularly holed four birdies in his final six holes to secure his second PGA Tour trophy with triumph at the Genesis Invitational.
The 25-year-old wrapped up a stroke ahead of Maverick McNealy after a close battle at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
Aberg, who moves up to fourth place in the world with this victory, began the round three behind the overnight frontrunners, while McNealy was five shots back.
American McNealy holed a 38-foot par putt on the first and then had nine birdies in his next 12 holes as he surged three clear of the competition.
However, a bogey on the 14th gave Aberg a chance, and after getting up and down from a sand trap to rescue par on the 12th, he went on a streak of three consecutive birdies and followed two pars with a decisive seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
“It was incredible, it was a great contest,” said Aberg, who closed with a six-under 66 to claim victory on 12 under.
“I felt like I was in command of the ball flight all day and really pleased with the way that I finished, it was really amazing.
“The [par] putt on 12 was crucial because I think at that moment, the lead was at 12 [under], and it was a putt to stay at eight.
“It was so much fun coming down the last few holes competing to win a championship, it is a really extraordinary feeling.”
McNealy’s 64 saw him secure second place on 11 under, two shots clear of co-leader Patrick Rodgers, who failed to convert a first PGA Tour title in 286 appearances.
Successive bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes disrupted his momentum, and he finished with a 71 to end tied for third alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, who signed for a 66.
Scheffler briefly held a share of the top spot going into the back nine, but he will be left to regret his 76 in the third round.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood recorded a 68 to finish joint fifth on eight under.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who competed with Scheffler in the closing round, had a level-par 72 as he remained at three under.
