LOS ANGELES — Scottie Scheffler gave a light fist pump when his final putt barely curled in on the 18th hole at Riviera, typical of his subdued reaction when he wins most tournaments.
The difference Friday (Saturday in Manila) is the putt allowed him to make the cut on the number at the Genesis Invitational.
A slow start for the third straight week meant Scheffler had to hole a 7-foot par putt on a green that had that scary combination of being spongy and speedy. It gave him a 3-under 68 to finish two rounds at Riviera in even-par 142.
The Genesis Invitational is one of three $20 million signature events to have a 36-hole cut for the top 50 and ties and any player within 10 shots of the lead. The 10-shot rule went out the window when Marco Penge birdied five of his last seven holes for a 64 to post at 12-under 130.
“It was nice to be able to hole a putt and get another two cracks at the course,” Scheffler said. “I started the day not where I wanted to, but yeah, battled and it looks like I get another couple rounds to see what I can do.”
“Battled” is a word Scheffler has been using more then he wants lately.
He opened with a 2-over 73 in the Phoenix Open to put himself outside the cut line, only to respond with a 65 and finish the week one shot out of a playoff. He shot 72 at Pebble Beach to start last week and was 13 shots behind at one point Friday before a 67-63 weekend that had him tied for the lead at one point.
This week is different, mainly because Scheffler doesn’t have a great history at Riviera.
“I don’t know,” he said. “This place and I have a weird relationship. I feel like I can play so well out here and I just haven’t yet.”
In five previous appearances at Riviera, Scheffler’s best week left him seven shots out of the lead. The other four times he finished nine shots behind. So as he enjoys an 18-tournament streak of top 10s on the PGA Tour, this wasn’t the course to fall behind.