Week 8 Golf Recap: Breakthroughs, Streaks Ended, and Historic Wins

Significant milestones were achieved, with notable streaks ending and new breakthroughs emerging.

This weekend featured a first-time victory at a premier PGA TOUR venue, a wire-to-wire win in Kenya, and a commanding performance in Thailand, highlighting competitive drama across all major tours. Emerging talent continues to challenge established players.

This weekend in professional golf underscored shifting momentum, with some players gaining ground, others defending their positions, and some losing their advantage.

At The Genesis Invitational, Jacob Bridgeman secured his first PGA TOUR title at Riviera Country Club, narrowly defeating Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama. On the DP World Tour, Casey Jarvis led from start to finish at the Magical Kenya Open, establishing himself as a leading young player internationally. On the LPGA Tour, Jeeno Thitikul affirmed her world-class status with a decisive victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Additionally, Scottie Scheffler’s top-10 streak ended, Riviera celebrated its centennial, and there were notable changes in the Official World Golf Ranking, marking this weekend as a pivotal moment in the early 2026 season.

Tour-By-Tour Recap

PGA TOUR

Event: The Genesis Invitational
Winner: Jacob Bridgeman
Score: -18
How They Won: Bridgeman relied on outstanding iron play and putting all week. He finished first in Strokes Gained Approach, Putting, and Overall.
Top 5: 1. Jacob Bridgeman T2. Kurt Kitayama T2. Rory McIlroy 4. Adam Scott 5. Aldrich Potgieter
Storyline to Know: Jacob Bridgeman Claims First PGA Tour Title. Bridgeman earned his first PGA TOUR win at The Genesis Invitational, holding off Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama by one stroke at The Riviera Country Club. He finished at 18-under, sinking a tense par putt on the 18th to secure the victory. This breakthrough came in his 66th start and is one of the most meaningful moments of his young career.

Riviera’s Historic Setting & Tournament Milestones. The Genesis Invitational marked its 100th anniversary this past weekend, celebrating a century of top-level golf in Los Angeles. Riviera Country Club also reached its own centennial, making Bridgeman’s win even more special.

Pressure Crowds & Late Drama. Bridgeman started Sunday with a six-shot lead, but his advantage disappeared as experienced players shot low scores. Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy both made late runs, turning the finish into a tense battle.

Rory McIlroy’s Strong Showing. McIlroy finished just one shot behind, making a late charge and pulling off a highlight bunker shot. Although he missed some early birdie chances, his final push almost led to a playoff.

Scottie Scheffler’s Top-10 Streak Ends. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler’s streak of 18 straight top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour ended this week. He finished outside the top ten despite playing well. This run was the longest in the modern era, and its end at Riviera was a major storyline.

Course Changes Spark Debate. Before the tournament, Riviera’s well-known 4th hole was made much longer, and several players criticized the change, saying it affected the course’s classic strategy. The adjustment and the players’ reactions became a story even before the final results.

Five of the seven PGA winners this year have used the Taylormade Spider putter, continuing its success from 2025.

Notable names to miss cut:

Chris Gotterup
Sam Burns
Jason Day
JJ Spaun
Russell Henley
Justin Rose

DP WORLD TOUR

Event: Magical Kenya Open
Winner: Casey Jarvis
Score: -25
How They Won: Casey Jarvis won the 2026 Magical Kenya Open with a wire-to-wire performance at Karen Country Club, finishing at -25 for his first DP World Tour title. He started strong with an opening 62, stayed in control all week with steady ball-striking, and closed with another 62 on Sunday to hold off the field. Jarvis combined precise play from tee to green with clutch putting, including two back-nine eagles in the final round, and stayed calm during weather delays that disrupted the tournament. At just 22, his composure, consistency, and ability to take advantage of chances made this a breakthrough win and moved him up in both the Race to Dubai and the Official World Golf Ranking.
Top 5: Casey Jarvis 2. Davis BRYANT 3. Hennie DU PLESSIS 4. Francesco LAPORTA T5. Nathan KIMSEY T5. Jacob Skov OLESEN
Storyline to Know: Casey Jarvis’ Breakthrough & Wire-to-Wire Win. Jarvis led or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds, then shot a final-round 62 to finish at -25 and win his first DP World Tour title. His last round included six birdies and two eagles, with a key eagle on the 18th to win by three shots. This was more than just a first win; it was a statement performance that showed his composure under pressure and top-level ball-striking over four days at Karen Country Club.

Jarvis’ Rise in the Rankings & Race to Dubai. With this win, Jarvis climbed significantly in the Race to Dubai standings and the Official World Golf Ranking, moving well into the top tier after starting the week outside the global spotlight. His performance is among the first-time wins so far this DP World Tour season, adding momentum to his early-career trajectory.

Play on Sunday was interrupted several times by storms around Nairobi, forcing players to deal with delays and changing conditions. Jarvis handled these challenges better than anyone.

Local Spotlight: Njoroge Kibugu Shines. Kenyan golfer Njoroge Kibugu stood out as the only local player to make the cut, finishing at -6 and exciting the home crowd. His performance ended a two-year drought for Kenyan golfers at this event and earned him praise, including a special reward from Kenya’s president.

LPGA

Event: Honda LPGA Thailand
Winner: Jeeno Thitikul
Score: -24
How They Won: Jeeno Thitikul played well from tee to green, setting herself apart with great iron play and steady scoring on Pattaya’s greens. She started with a low round to get near the top of the leaderboard and stayed in control throughout. Over the weekend, she used precise distance control and sharp wedge shots to give herself many birdie chances inside 15 feet. Her ability to take advantage of par-5s was key, and she avoided costly mistakes. When other players made brief runs on Sunday, Thitikul answered with timely birdies on the back nine, keeping her lead and finishing confidently at -24.
Top 5: 1. Jeeno Thitikul 2. Chizzy Iwai 3. Hyo Joo Kim 4. Somi Lee T5. Lydia Ko T5. Nanna Koerstz Madsen
Storyline to Know: A Statement Win on Home Soil. Winning in Thailand made Thitikul’s season even more special. The crowd’s energy and national attention made the moment bigger and confirmed her place as the leading figure in Thai women’s golf.

Player of the Year Momentum. With another early-season victory, Thitikul strengthens her case in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested Player of the Year race.

Elite Ball-Striking Separates the Best. On a course that rewards aggressive play, Thitikul’s disciplined approach shots, not just risky moves, made the difference.

Official World Golf Ranking Top 20 (Week 8)

Scottie Scheffler –
Rory McIlroy –
Tommy Fleetwood –
Justin Rose –
Collin Morikawa –
Chris Gotterup ⬆️ (+1)
Russell Henley ⬇️ (−1)
Robert MacIntyre ⬆️ (+1)
Xander Schauffele ⬆️ (+4)
J.J. Spaun ⬇️ (−2)
Ben Griffin –
Hideki Matsuyama ⬇️ (−2)
Sepp Straka ⬇️ (−1)
Justin Thomas –
Harris English –
Alex Noren ⬆️ (+1)
Viktor Hovland ⬇️ (−1)
Patrick Reed –
Keegan Bradley –
Jacob Bridgeman ⬆️ (+32)

Updated Winner’s Rankings

Jacob Bridgeman — No. 20 ⬆️ (from 52)
Casey Jarvis — No. 128 ⬆️ (from 195)
Jeeno Thitikul — No. 1

Closing Thoughts

The weekend’s events showed how small the margins are between winning and losing in professional golf. Justin Rose proved that experience and patience still matter against top competition, while younger players faced the tough task of chasing leaders on difficult courses. Freddy Schott’s breakthrough on the DP World Tour showed that persistence pays off, even when things are unpredictable. The LPGA season opener made it clear that logistics and weather can have a big impact on results, and these factors will likely get more attention this season. On the Korn Ferry Tour, Ian Holt showed how quickly a career can change when confidence meets opportunity.

As the season progresses, themes emerging from this weekend, such as dominance versus depth, safety versus competition, and the balance between veterans and new talent, will likely become more important. Early signs point to a very competitive 2026 season, with each win carrying even more weight.