2023 Genesis Invitational leaderboard: Jon Rahm cruises to three-stroke lead entering final round at Riviera

Rahm has easily been the best golfer so far this year, and he'll be out to prove it again as he seeks his third win

Saturday at the 2023 Genesis Invitational was a day to remember. On one side of the golf course, Tiger Woods electrified weekend crowds with one of the rounds of the day, while on the other side, the final group of Max Homa, Jon Rahm and Keith Mitchell duked it out against each other.

In the end, it was Rahm who claimed the solo lead at 15 under heading into the final round at Riviera Country Club. Beginning the day one stroke off the pace of Homa, Rahm signed for one of the best rounds of the day with his 6-under 65. Making this effort even more impressive was the fact that his biggest weapon -- the driver -- abandoned him at certain points throughout the afternoon.

Battling a left miss off the tee, Rahm was able to card six birdies against zero bogeys thanks to valiant performances both on approach and with the putter in hand. The world No. 3 is now positioned for his third title of 2023, and should he win, will reclaim the world No. 1 ranking.

To say this tournament is over would be an exaggeration, however. Homa (-12) and Mitchell (-11) are still both within close proximity to Rahm and will be paired with him once again on Sunday. Patrick Cantlay made a nice charge to 10 under late on Saturday while former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland is within reach at 9 under.

The leader

1. Jon Rahm (-15)

It is one thing to be the best player in the world (which Rahm has been in 2023), but it is another to also be the luckiest (which Rahm has been this week). This streak of breaks began late on Friday as Rahm's second shot into the par-5 17th bounced off the greenside grandstand and trickled within 5 feet of the hole. An eagle ensued, but it was a pair of good bounces from Saturday that only amplified his tournament chances.

The first came on the par-4 3rd where Rahm blasted his tee shot left into a parking lot. This area was labeled as a temporary immovable object, and as such, Rahm was rewarded free relief -- even he himself believed this to be out of bounds as he played a provisional off the tee. The second came at the par-4 13th where Rahm once again missed left with the driver but caught a tree branch. Had his ball's momentum not been stopped, an impossible second shot and likely bogey would have followed.

To Rahm's credit (and to the misfortune of the rest of the field), the hottest player in the world is taking full advantage when the ball has bounced his way. His round of 6-under 65 in Round 3 almost felt too routine.

Other contenders

2. Max Homa (-12)

3. Keith Mitchell (-11)

4. Patrick Cantlay (-10)

5. Gary Woodland (-9)

T6. Collin Morikawa, Adam Svensson, Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge (-7)

In the early stages of the back nine it felt as if Homa could do no wrong. The 2021 champion was in a share of the lead when he walked off the 14th green and was absolutely cruising until a pair of poor iron swings put him behind the eight ball. Playing his final four holes in 2 over, Homa lost three strokes to Rahm and may have dashed his chance to claim another Genesis Invitational title.

Tiger turns back the clocks

Only Rahm and Denny McCarthy beat the cat in Round 3 as the 47-year-old signed for the third-lowest round of the day with his 4-under 67. Woods ranked ninth in strokes gained tee to green, eighth in strokes gained off the tee, 19th in strokes gained approach and, most importantly, 15th in strokes gained putting. After a poor putting performance on Friday, he made his fair share of lengthy efforts and totaled three birdies and an eagle.

"Today I made a few putts," said Woods. "Yesterday I blocked about half my putts. This entire week I have been very pleased with the way I have driven it. I have been pretty one-dimensional since I haven't played that much ... but it's been good since the golf course kind of sets up for me that way."

2023 Genesis Invitational updated odds and picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

  • Jon Rahm: 33/100
  • Max Homa: 4-1
  • Keith Mitchell: 16-1
  • Patrick Cantlay: 16-1

These are the only players listed below 100-1 as Rahm put a stranglehold on this tournament over the last hour of play on Saturday. In possession of a three-stroke lead, if Rahm breaks 70, he should win this tournament. With how well he is striking his irons and reading these greens (and despite how poorly he is driving it), his third victory of 2023 appears inevitable.

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Homa leaking oil

That is now back-to-back bogeys for Homa and all of a sudden, Rahm's lead is two. At 14 under, Keith Mitchell and Homa are now two strokes off the pace with two holes to go. These next two holes are crucial as they will not want to be too far off the pace of Rahm.

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February 18, 2023, 11:15 PM
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Tiger drops a shot; Homa and Rahm still rolling

Tiger cards his first bogey of the day on the par-4 7th to drop to 3 under. On the other side of the golf course, the final group continues to play unbelievable golf. Homa has caught Rahm at 14 under while Keith Mitchell will have a great chance on the par-3 14th to get within one.

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February 18, 2023, 10:14 PM
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Tiger gets inside top 20 with another birdie

The big cat is rolllllling. A birdie on the par-4 5th gets Woods to 5 under on the day and 4 under for the tournament. Only Denny McCarthy at 6 under has a better round than Woods for the day.

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Rahm takes solo lead

The big Spaniard is now 14 under after a birdie on the par-5 11th. He has taken the lead from Max Homa who failed to convert a 10 footer of his own for birdie. Rahm (-14), Homa (-13) and Mitchell (-12) are in full control of their games at the moment. They are a combined 11 under today with zero bogeys.

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February 18, 2023, 9:38 PM
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Final group separating from field

Max Homa and Jon Rahm share the lead at 13 under after Homa's birdie on the par-4 10th. Keith Mitchell is holding steady as well at 11 under, but outside the top three there are no other players double-digit under par. Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay round out the top five at 8 under.

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