Saturday was ‘fun and easy’ for Jacob Bridgeman. Sunday will be different
Ben Jared
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Jacob Bridgeman described his third-round 64 on Saturday at Riviera as “fun and easy.” Sunday will be anything but.
Then again, his play has given it a chance to be easier than most final rounds for a man in search of his first PGA Tour victory. The Clemson product is six clear of Rory McIlroy, who sits in solo second at 13 under. The big-hitting Aldrich Potgieter is right behind in third thanks to a six-under 65.
Being ahead by nearly a touchdown should help him rest a little easier tonight. His closest chaser being the reigning Masters champ, the prestige of winning a Signature Event at Riviera and all the trappings that come with that, might have him tossing and turning, though.
If he continues playing the way he’s been playing—Bridgeman ranks first in strokes/gained total, as well as first in approach and putting—he should sleep just fine.
“I played great this whole week, so I don't think it was a surprise to me that my game was the way it is,” he said. “I've said kind of the whole week I feel comfortable and I felt great today.”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention, either. Bridgeman has played sublime in 2026, finishing T-18 or better in all four events he’s played in. He was in serious contention for much of the final round last Sunday at Pebble Beach. If not for two bogeys on the final three holes, including one that featured plenty of time spent on the beach, he would have had his second top five of the year.
The 26-year-old had a strong sophomore campaign, too. He made 19 of 30 cuts, posted five top 10 finishes, including top threes at the Cognizant and the Valspar, the latter of which he played alongside winner Viktor Hovland in the final round.
He remembers the day well.
“Yeah, last year I felt nice,” he said. "I kind of I think on the tee I expected to be nervous and feeling more pressure than I did. Then when I got on the tee it was kind of eerie that I didn't feel that and I felt good. I think I sort of psych myself out a little bit.
“I didn't play great Sunday at Valspar, but I still kind of hung in there, gave myself a chance. Viktor just ran away with it. I think the most part is I'll know kind of how I'm going to feel and be confident in that.”
The key difference between that final day and this week’s is that Bridgeman was not expected to win, being tied with a player of Hovland’s caliber after 54 holes. That is not the case with a six-shot lead, even in an event of this magnitude and even with McIlroy staring him down.
Whole different ball game. Bridgeman understands that.
“I think maybe the only thing would be I know he's [McIlroy] going to play well tomorrow,” he said. “I know that I can't back up at all.”
While Bridgeman remains a relative unknown to the casual fan, he has been here before. He’s a man who looks and sounds ready for his moment.
“I’m a competitor,” he said. “I haven't had a ton of chances to win yet in my career, but I'm hoping that I'll have a chance, a good chance tomorrow all the way till the end.
“If I can get it done, I'd like to kind of start rolling and get a lot of these."