Rory McIlroy One Shot Behind Leaders After Two Rounds in Los Angeles

Rory McIlroy is within striking distance of the lead after two days of play at the prestigious Genesis Invitational. Following an excellent Friday round of 65 strokes, the Northern Irishman has a score of -11 and trails the co-leaders by just one shot – England's Marco Penge and America's Jacob Bridgeman, who are both at -12. McIlroy's strong form is all the more noteworthy given that the first round on Thursday was marked by exceptionally difficult conditions. Play at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades was suspended for three hours due to heavy rain. Despite these challenges, McIlroy managed to finish the day with a score of 66 strokes (-5), sharing the lead with Bridgeman at that point. A key moment in his play was a fantastic par save on the sixth hole, where after a poor shot onto the green he had to chip the ball over a bunker. The Genesis Invitational tournament, formerly known as the Los Angeles Open, has been held continuously since 1926 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious events on the PGA Tour calendar. Riviera Country Club, the tournament's permanent home since 1973, is famous for its demanding, undulating course and fast greens, posing a true challenge even for the world's best golfers.Among the leaders after Friday, Marco Penge particularly stood out, scoring five birdies in the last seven holes of his second round to secure a share of the lead. His Friday play was even more impressive as he first had to complete nine holes from the delayed first round, playing a total of 27 holes that day. McIlroy's second round was also very successful; the Irishman scored three under par before and after the ninth hole, culminating in an eagle on the par-five eleventh hole. Selected golfers: Rory McIlroy: -5, Jacob Bridgeman: -5, Aaron Rai: incomplete, Tommy Fleetwood: -2, Scottie Scheffler: +5In the background of the battle for the lead, another significant story is unfolding. Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one and main favorite, is having a disastrous start to the tournament. The American finished Thursday with a score of +5, placing him in last, tied position among players who completed the round. His poor form is a surprise and contrasts with McIlroy's steady play. For the latter, the Los Angeles tournament is a chance for an important victory. McIlroy, currently the world number two, needs one more PGA Tour win to become the first player since Phil Mickelson in 2007 to reach 30 victories on the tour. Key tournament moments: February 19, 10:13 local time — Play suspended; February 20 — Completion of first round; February 21 — Second roundDecisive rounds await on Saturday and Sunday, which will determine whether McIlroy can make up the one-shot deficit and claim the trophy. Shane Lowry, the second Irish representative in the field, clearly improved on Friday after a poor Thursday (+2), although his exact score is not provided in all sources. Among other notable names, England's Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Justin Rose as well as Americans Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele were also under par after the first day.