The Genesis Invitational Round 1: Denny McCarthy Closes Birdie, Eagle to Lead a Soaked Torrey Pines

Denny McCarthy is not going to win a long drive contest at Torrey Pines. On a cold, soaked Thursday that turned the South Course into a slog, it turned out he didn't need to.

McCarthy finished birdie, eagle to shoot a 4-under 68 and take a one-shot lead after the first round of The Genesis Invitational. Seamus Power and Patrick Rodgers, who went out in the very first group of the day, are tied for second at 3-under 69. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is part of a three-way tie for fourth at 2-under 70 alongside Wyndham Clark and Davis Thompson. Only three players broke 70, and the scoring average sat north of two over par, per CBS Sports.

A Week Nobody Planned

This tournament was never supposed to be here. The wildfires in Los Angeles forced the PGA TOUR to move its signature event from Riviera to Torrey Pines South, the same course that hosted the Farmers Insurance Open three weeks earlier. The event pledged $8 million in value to wildfire relief, largely through 100 tournament cars, and Riviera announced a $1 million donation of its own.

The host was missing too. Tiger Woods withdrew after the death of his mother, Kultida, the week before, and the PGA TOUR flew a solid white flag on the seventh hole as a tribute.

Then the weather showed up. Steady rain, soft greens, cold air and a wind that sounds harmless on paper. "It's blowing only like 10 to 15 (mph), but 10 to 15 here is basically 25 to 30 at other places," Michael Kim said, per the AP. Kim shot 71.

The Grinder's Finish

McCarthy is one of the best putters on the planet, and Thursday was a reminder of what that skill is worth when nobody can hit greens. He gained more than three strokes on the field with the putter, per CBS Sports, and the tournament's own recap said he led the field in that category while making over 100 feet of putts.

The round could have gone sideways late. McCarthy made bogey on the par-3 16th. He answered by rolling in a 25-footer for birdie on 17, then hit 3-wood into a back-right pin on the par-5 18th and holed the 7-footer for eagle.

"I came out with the attitude that I was just going to have fun and try to embrace it as much as I could," McCarthy said, per the AP.

He was also blunt about what the course demands. "I'm not the longest of hitters, but you've got to keep it in the fairway," McCarthy said. "The rough's gnarly and the rain makes it even more difficult."

Still chasing a first PGA TOUR win, McCarthy now has the best seat in the house on one of the hardest setups the TOUR will play all year.

Scheffler Looks Like Scheffler

The headline chaser is the one everybody expected. Scheffler made four birdies in his first seven holes and looked ready to run away from the field. The rest of the round was a grind. He played 2 over from there, failed to birdie either back-nine par 5, and missed a 4-footer for birdie on the last.

The length of the place stood out even to him. On the 13th, after two strong swings, he still had 130 yards left. "Driver, 3-wood, 9-iron," Scheffler said, per the AP. "And I smoked all three of them, too."

The PGA TOUR's social account summed up the round in one word: "Inevitable."

A Brutal Scorecard

The numbers tell the story better than any adjective. The 461-yard fifth was the hardest hole on the course and gave up zero birdies across the 72-man field. Collin Morikawa said players were hitting 4-iron into a green that normally takes an 8-iron. The ninth and 13th, both par 5s, played over par, a rarity on the PGA TOUR.

Power, who recovered from an early bogey to make four birdies, didn't expect a break anytime soon. "There's no letup," he said, per the AP.

Rodgers, who set the early pace with Power, called the course "a really difficult golf course and you have to execute for 72 holes," per the tournament's recap.

Big Names, Big Numbers

Rory McIlroy, two weeks removed from winning at Pebble Beach, made two birdies and two bogeys for an even-par 72. According to CBS Sports, he hit only half his fairways and sat near the bottom of the field in strokes gained approach, so even par was a decent escape.

Morikawa, Shane Lowry and Justin Thomas all signed for 73. Harris English, who won the Farmers here at 8 under three weeks ago, opened with 75. Ludvig Åberg, who shared the 36-hole lead at the Farmers before a stomach illness derailed his weekend, shot 74. Rasmus Højgaard shot 82 and Adam Hadwin shot 83.

Clark was one of the bright spots, ranking inside the top 10 in driving distance, scrambling, strokes gained around the green and strokes gained putting, per CBS Sports. Nick Dunlap, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp, Andrew Novak, Min Woo Lee, Nico Echavarria and Kim sit at 1 under.

Friday's Forecast

The forecast called for gradual clearing, but the moisture is expected to keep the course playing long and the rough thick. With only 13 players under par after 18 holes and the cut coming Friday, the second round is about protecting what you have and picking your spots.

McCarthy holds the lead. Scheffler holds the attention. And Torrey Pines holds every card.

Full scores are on the official PGA TOUR leaderboard (opens in a new tab), and the TOUR's Round 1 recap (opens in a new tab) has more.

Sources: PGA TOUR (Round 1 recap and leaderboard), AP, CBS Sports, The Genesis Invitational. More golf coverage on Undrafted.

Photo: PGA TOUR.