Jacob Bridgeman is the newest winner on thePGA Tour, and while his four-day run at Riviera to take down a signature event for his maiden victory is mighty impressive stuff, he's been in serious form since the turn of the calendar.
Rory McIlroywould have spoiled Bridgeman's party on Sunday if his putter didn't turn into a literal ice sickle, but he's not too concerned with a runner-up finish. He also wasn't shy to share how large a paycheck is coming his way,thanks to the birdie he made on the final hole at Riviera.
LIV Golfwasn't in action over the weekend, butJon Rahmstill found his name in the headlines thanks to his refusal to pay outstanding debts that has put hisRyder Cupfuture in jeopardy, at least for now. Something has got to give before 2027, but it's not a certainty that things will fall in the Spaniard's way, which would bequitethe blow to Team Europe.
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Folks, we may have ourselves a new, certifieddawgon the PGA Tour. Is giving Jacob Bridgeman that title after just one victory a bit of an overreaction? Yeah, maybe, but I'll scoop up any Bridgeman stock anyone is still willing to sell after what we've seen so far in 2026.
The 26-year-old didn't have anything close to his best stuff on Sunday afternoon, but didn't need it thanks to the sizable cushion he built on the leaderboard heading into the final round. A 1-over par round of 72 was just good enough to reach 18-under and hold off Kurt Kitayama and Rory McIlroy by a shot.
Adversity did make an appearance late on Sunday, with Bridgeman making a bogey on the Par 3 16th and a par on the gettable Par 5 17th while McIlroy was applying pressure, but then locked things up on 18 with a perfect tee shot and a routine par to close it out.
Bridgeman finished the week ranked first in approach, first in putting, first in greens in regulation, 11th in driving accuracy, and 13th in average driving distance. With those numbers, it's a bit of a shock he only won the event by one, but those weekly statistics will get it done anytime, anywhere.
With the win at Riviera, it's tough not to circle Bridgeman as the MVP of the West Coast swing in 2026. The Clemson alum finished T-4 at the Sony, T-13 at The AmEx, T-18 at Waste Management, T-8 at Pebble Beach, and then stepped into the winner's circle at The Genesis against a ridiculously strong field on a very demanding golf course.
That run of form, and the fact he's shown no real weak spot in his game this season, is reason alone to buy stock in Bridgeman for the remainder of 2026. On top of that, he's been putting together these results on different turfs, and not his likely preferred one of Bermuda grass.
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