PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the ninth tee during the third round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 15, 2020 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers
Tiger Woods shot himself out of contention on Saturday at Riviera C.C., stumbling to a third-round 76. But even without the 15-time major champion chasing history on Sunday, the final round of the Genesis Invitational has the potential to be the most exciting of the year on the PGA Tour.

Three players are tied at the top through 54 holes, the highest-ranked among them Rory McIlroy, who took over the World No. 1 spot earlier this week. He’s joined at 10 under by Matt Kuchar and Adam Scott, who won this event in 2005, though it does not count as an official win because it was shortened to 36 holes due to rain. Just don’t tell that to the 39-year-old Aussie.

“I count it, I’ve got the trophy,” said Scott following his third-round 67.

In terms of momentum, Scott has it all heading into Sunday. At the final hole he holed a slick, right-to-left downhill putt for birdie, his sixth of the day, earning a loud roar from the crowd. Scott’s somewhat of a fan favourite at Riviera, which he chalks up to having played so well there in the past.

“This is definitely my favourite course on the PGA Tour, that’s for sure. But it is nice being out there and getting a little love from the crowd. It’s a lot of fun for me, it’s fun that I keep getting back in late groups on the weekend here. So maybe I’m just a familiar face to them.”

McIlroy nearly played his way out of the final group at the par-4 18th, blasting a driveway right of the fairway, which forced him to play a shot left of the green. He was able to get up and down, saving a par and finishing with a three-under 68. Kuchar, who led by himself after each of the first two rounds, shot a one-under 70.

Just one back are Russell Henley (68) and Harold Varner III (69). Henley is looking to win for the fourth time on tour, his most recent victory coming at the 2017 Shell Houston Open. Varner has not yet won on tour, though he does have one European Tour victory. Dustin Johnson and Joel Dahmen lurk at eight under.