2024 Genesis Invitational leaderboard, scores: Hideki Matsuyama shoots 62 to win from six strokes back in L.A.

Matsuyama posted the lowest final round in the history of Riviera Country Club

Remember him? Hideki Matsuyama chased down and raced past a star-studded leaderboard Sunday at Riviera Country Club to claim the 2024 Genesis Invitational, coming back from six strokes off the lead to win his first PGA Tour event since January 2022. Carding a sensational final round 9-under 62 that included a back-nine 30, Matsuyama finished the week at 17 under for a three-stroke victory over Will Zalatoris and Luke List

With nine birdies and no bogeys on the afternoon, Matsuyama posted the second-lowest round in course history and the lowest in the fourth round of a tournament at Riviera. The ninth PGA Tour victory of his career is his first since the 2022 Sony Open.

Matsuyama's win at Riviera adds to an impressive résumé of triumphs at some of the nation's top courses: Augusta National, Muirfield Village, Firestone Country Club. The 31-year-old now holds a major championship, two World Golf Championships and a signature event to his name.

A year after missing the Tour Championship, Matsuyama is now on the inside track to return to East Lake. His victory comes with an elevated 700 FedEx Cup points -- thrusting him to third place in the standings -- and a cool $4 million, the largest winner's share of his career.

While Matsuyama topped the field at the culmination of 72 holes, he was hardly top of mind with 18 to play. Beginning the day at 8 under and a half dozen strokes behind 18-, 36- and 54-hole leader Patrick Cantlay, Japan's top star was believed to be a non-factor given not only his deficit but the laundry list of names that separated his from the top of the leaderboard.

Still, Matsuyama went about his business and got off to the type of start required to make a memorable Sunday charge.

"I wasn't striking the ball really well, but my chipping and putting was working a lot this week," said Matsuyama through an interpreter after the round.

A turkey of birdies out the gate -- a common theme in his final round -- set the pace. Six straight pars put a bow on a front-nine 32 and set the scene for a back-nine performance reminiscent of his third round at the 2021 Masters. Again, Matsuyama put three consecutive birdies on his scorecard as he took advantage of the drivable par-4 10th and par-5 11th. A bonus birdie arrived from just inside 50 feet on the difficult par-4 12th.

Matsuyama made pars on Nos. 13-14 and found himself in the lead once List started his inward half with three straight fives. However, they were soon joined by Zalatoris, Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in a five-way tie at 14 under. That only stood for a moment, however, as Matsuyama found a new gear and left his counterparts in the dust.

An approach stuck to 8 inches arrived on the 15th to put Matsuyama alongside Zalatoris, who tacked on one of his own on the 13th. Hideki's next iron shot from the tee of the par-3 16th resulted in his ball settling to just 6 inches to set up another birdie. As fast as this tournament tightened, it was busted open by Matsuyama, whose lead climbed to three when he made birdie on the par-5 17th – his last turkey of the day -- and Zalatoris found trouble on the 15th.

One last birdie bid on the par-4 finisher ultimately did not fall for a share of the course record and a potential back-nine 29, but that would have been a cherry on top. The rest of Matsuyama's final round was reminder enough of the type of golfer -- and champion -- he can be. Grade: A+

Here are the grades for the rest of the leaderboard at the 2024 Genesis Invitational.

T2. Will Zalatoris (-14): Zalatoris seemed like an unlikely champion at the beginning of the week given how little he's played over the last year. However, he nearly pulled off the victory. Even before this week, his trajectory was good. After a missed cut at the Sony Open, he steadily improved at the American Express and Farmers Insurance Open. Now? He's back into that that top tier of favorites at the majors, including Augusta National. (Perhaps you've heard that Augusta a pretty decent facsimile for Riviera?) Grade: A+

Luke List also finished T2.

T4. Patrick Cantlay (-13): For most of the tournament, the title was in Cantlay's grap ... only for the final 20 holes to be his undoing. Beginning with a poor bogey on the par-5 17th during Saturday's third round, Cantlay's tournament-record five-stroke lead at the halfway point was trimmed to two with one round to go. A par on the par-5 opener set the tone for the final round as he was stuck in mud most of the day unable to muster any mojo together. Still, the former FedEx Cup champion found himself in a share of the lead with seven holes to play. Bogeys on the 13th and 15th, combined with Matsuyama's heater, ultimately saw Cantlay get lapped and not be a factor the last few holes. Grade: A-

Xander Schauffele, Adam Hadwin also finished T4.

T10. Scottie Scheffler (-8): Here's everything you need to know about Scheffler right now. When Rory McIlroy joined the broadcast after his round to chat for a bit, he advocated that Scheffler try a mallet putter instead of a blade but then said Scheffler does everything else so well that he is giving everyone else a chance by not going to the mallet. This will not surprise you, but Scheffler finished 2nd in the field from tee to green and 51st (of 51 who played the weekend) with the putter. New week, same Scottie. The amazing part is that everyone talks about Scheffler like he has absolutely no clue what ails him, yet he still finished in the top 10. Grade: B-

MC. Justin Thomas (+3): It was a disappointing conclusion to the West Coast swing for J.T. He was excellent for most of the swing but missed the smallest possible cut Friday after opening 72-73. His problem was mostly related to approach play. If this was a year ago, one might conclude that this is a massive issue, but given how good he's been for the last several months, it's fine to call it a one off and expect a bounce back when he restarts in Florida over the next few weeks. Grade: F

DQ. Jordan Spieth: What a strange and bizarre sport. Spieth was inside the top 10 at Riviera for most of the first few days before signing for an incorrect scorecard on Friday. After a one-bogey 66 in the first round, you had to know something insane was coming on Friday. It's just that no one realized it would result in Spieth not even playing the event on Saturday and Sunday. Grade: F

WD. Tiger Woods: Explaining on social media that he came down with influenza this week, Tiger put his withdrawal into more clear context. Riviera was a bizarre scene for a few hours, but the bottom line with Woods is that -- for the fourth time in his last six starts worldwide -- he had to withdraw or missed the cut at an event. There are varied reasons for this early dismissals, but the general trajectory from a golf standpoint is not great. Woods looked fine when he did play Thursday, but flu aside, he did not display a tee-to-green game that excited me as it relates to the major championships. Grade: C+

[Feb 18, 2024 at 5:36 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Hideki gets in at 17 under

That should do it. Hideki Matsuyama comes home in 30 and takes a three-stroke lead into the clubhouse. Will Zalatoris will need to pull a rabbit out of his hat and eagle the par-5 17th and birdie the par-4 18th to force a playoff.

[Feb 18, 2024 at 5:22 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Hideki lapping the field

As quick as this thing turned into a tournament, it may be over. Hideki adds another on 17 to get to 17 under while Will Zalatoris misses his 25-foot putt for par on 15. With the Willy Z miss, the lead is three as Matsuyama finds the fairway on the finisher. A birdie will tie the course record and see Matsuyama come home in — wait for it — 29 (!!!).

[Feb 18, 2024 at 5:16 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Incredible Hideki ball-striking

Hideki has had four birdie looks from 18 inches or closer today in his first 16 holes. Four!

[Feb 18, 2024 at 5:10 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

This might be a two-man race

It's down to Hideki Matsuyama and Will Zalatoris. Matsuyama holds the lead at 16 under and is in the fairway on 17 looking to add another. If he does, it may be enough to hold off Zalatoris who is in the steep — and I cannot stress that enough — STEEP fairway bunker on 15. He will need to make a par from there and add at least one more coming in assuming Matsuyama does not slip up. 

[Feb 18, 2024 at 5:02 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Hideki adds another!

Wow, wow, wow. After an 8-inch birdie make on 15, Hideki hits his tee shot on the par-3 16th to 6 inches. He will tap that in to get to 16 under and head to the par-5 17th looking to add another one. He is currently 8 under on his round and one clear of Will Zalatoris.

[Feb 18, 2024 at 4:56 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Matsuyama matches Zalatoris' birdie

A birdie from Willy Z on 13 has been matched by Hideki Matsuyama on 15. He is charging and nearly hooped his second to take the lead on his own. They stand at 15 under and one clear of Luke List and Patrick Cantlay. Xander Schauffele may be in some trouble on 13 after a bogey on 12.

[Feb 18, 2024 at 4:52 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Hideki keeps rolling

This Hideki round reminds me of the 2017 U.S. Open, when he shot 66 in the final round to get within striking distance but ultimately fell short of Brooks Koepka. He's -6 through 14 and within one of Will Zalatoris. 

[Feb 18, 2024 at 4:40 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

We're running five wide

Luke List drops another shot on the par-4 12th which means we have five men standing atop the leaderboard. Hideki Matsuyama will have the chance to post as he is on the 14th green with List, Will Zalatoris, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay making up the final two groups on the golf course.

[Feb 18, 2024 at 4:35 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Schauffele, Cantlay come up big on No. 11

After making birdie on No. 10, Xander Schauffele makes an eagle on the 11th from the greenside bunker. He gets to 14 under while Patrick Cantlay does the same after missing his 11-foot eagle attempt. They are tied for second with Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama and one behind Luke List who is struggling up the 12th. This is anyone's game.