Rory McIlroy Didn’t Win, But Still Walked Away $600,000 Richer
PGA, Golf Herren The Genesis Invitational - First Round Feb 19, 2026 Pacific Palisades, California, USA Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the The Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Pacific Palisades Riviera Country Club California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKiyoshixMiox 20260219_mio_ma1_048
PGA, Golf Herren The Genesis Invitational - First Round Feb 19, 2026 Pacific Palisades, California, USA Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the The Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Pacific Palisades Riviera Country Club California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKiyoshixMiox 20260219_mio_ma1_048
Rory McIlroy didn’t win the Genesis Invitational, but one putt on Sunday ensured he left Riviera Country Club with more than just momentum.
McIlroy was looking at a 29-ft birdie putt on the 18th hole. And his said birdie on the 18th reportedly boosted his payout by about $600,000, moving him into a share of second place worth $1,800,000 along with Kurt Kitayama
Asked afterward whether the final putt carried extra meaning, McIlroy kept it straightforward. “No, not really. It probably earned me an extra 400, 500 grand, so it's fine,” he said.
While he is certainly not oblivious to the financial boons, the remark makes it clear that it wasn’t the driving force.
At the same time, McIlroy did not hide his disappointment about how the week unfolded. “I’ll rue basically all 18 holes yesterday and then the front nine today, like 27 holes where I failed to capitalize on the chances I give myself,” McIlroy explained.
There was, however, a clear adjustment late in the round. As he himself put it, “I started to trust my reads a bit on the back nine, and I went more with my first instinct; I putted a little better.” The sharper feeling on the greens certainly reflected in his closing run, culminating with the birdie at the last, which was a perfect cap to his round.
The closing birdie did not deliver a title, but it changed the standings and the payout sheet, a measurable difference produced by one putt.
But how much did the winner, Jacob Bridgeman, and others take home?
Who Took Home What From the $20M Purse?
The 2026 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club featured a $20 million total purse, making it one of the richest stops on the PGA Tour this season. Signature Event status means big money and big points, including 700 FedExCup points for the winner.
Leading the payout list is Jacob Bridgeman, who earned a whopping $4 million for his win. Both Kurt Kitayama and Rory Mcllroy as second and third place, respectively, shared the prize of $1.8 million each, which is a convincing testimony to the hefty rewards for being close to the top in a field as strong as this one.
Beyond the leaders, the money drops slowly down the leaderboard, with the players in the mid-positions still getting six-figure checks and everyone who made the cut, netting a good chunk of the purse.
Read more at Daily Club Golf!
Written by
Dolly Bhamrick
Edited by
Joyita Das