Rory McIlroy is looking to pick up his first win of the 2026 season at Riviera this week as the Genesis Invitational rolls into town in Los Angeles.
McIlroy enjoyed a stellar year on the PGA Tour in 2025, winning three times including The Masters – a victory which sealed the career Grand Slam for him.
He won the Irish Open on the DP World Tour as well, and played a key role for Europe in the Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black in September.
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McIlroy has been slow out of the blocks this season, but he’ll be looking to change all of that at the Genesis Invitational this week.
Rory McIlroy is in decent form heading into the Genesis and he’ll be very keen to kickstart his 2026 season.
However, he has never won at Riviera and only has three top-10 finishes to his name in nine appearances at the Genesis.
Perhaps the golf course simply doesn’t suit his game, although that’s hard to believe, given his skillset.
However, when speaking to the media on Wednesday, McIlroy did highlight one change to the golf course that he is really not a fan of.
Rory McIlroy says Riviera has made a ‘horrible change’ for the Genesis Invitational
McIlroy is someone who always speaks his mind, and it was fascinating to get his take on one of the big changes made to the golf course at Riviera.
The par-three fourth hole at Riviera has been lengthened from 230 yards to 270 yards for this year’s tournament.
McIlroy was asked by one reporter during his press conference on Wednesday what he thinks about the change.
“I don’t think 4 plays any differently, you’re just hitting a slightly longer club.
“I actually think it’s a horrible change.“
McIlroy certainly didn’t hold back there but he does have a point.
It’s rare that a tour player will speak positively about any par three that stretches over 200 yards in length.
There is no thought in the design of these holes, and it just makes for fairly boring viewing.
Rory McIlroy’s problem with the 4th hole at the Genesis Invitational
McIlroy delivered a detailed response when asked why he’s not keen on the change made to the 4th hole at Riviera.
“Well, like 15 percent of the field hit the green last time when it was played at its original yardage at 230,“ McIlroy said.
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“Like if you want it to be a 275-yard par-3, you have to change the apron leading up onto the green. It can’t be kikuyu, it has to be another type of grass that can help you run it onto the green.
“Again, in the right conditions, you try to fly that ball on the green with a 3-iron, it’s going to land — it’s going to finish up on the fifth tee box.
“That’s sort of what I mean by why it’s not a great change.“
Ridiculously long par threes seem to be in vogue right now and that’s a real shame. Look at the very best par-threes in the world – the 12th at Augusta National, the 7th at Pebble Beach and the 8th at Royal Troon are all 150 yards and under, just to name a few.
McIlroy made it clear that he’s not a fan of the change made to the fourth hole at Riviera but whether or not his advice will be heeded remains to be seen.
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