Rising American Jacob Bridgeman broke through for his maiden PGA Tour victory after keeping his chasers at bay - just - to convert a five-shot overnight lead into an anxious one-stroke triumph at ritzy Riviera Country Club.
Bridgeman closed with a one-over-par 72 to edge out his superstar playing partner Rory McIlroy and fast-finishing countryman Kurt Kitayama, who applied the heat with a surging Sunday 64.
Apart from a blazing hole-out from the 12th greenside bunker and an-all-too-late birdie at the last, world No.2 McIlroy was unable to make enough headway down the stretch.
With a final-round 67, golf's latest grand slam winner had to settle for joint runner-up, one stroke ahead of Scott, who closed with a flawless and brilliant eight-birdie 63 to briefly seize the clubhouse lead at 16 under.
Scott's eight-under effort matched his low round of the day on Friday but, alas, Australia's former world No.1's third-round 73 left the two-time Genesis winner 11 shots back and, realistically, playing for second prize.
Still, after going without a top-10 finish all last year, the 2013 Masters champ's welcome return to form six weeks out from the season's first major at Augusta National was heartening.
The 45-year-old said playing Riviera, his "favourite stop on tour for the year", brought out his best golf.
"It's unfair, but I've played a lot of golf tournaments now over the years and I wish I was playing just the greatest all the time," said Scott, champion in LA in 2005 and 2020.
"But it's just not how it is. And this is one of the greatest, so you get fired up for it.
"I feel really good that I almost made the most of it this week. It's not a win, which I really kind of refocused on trying to get back to the winner's circle this year, but a result feels good because it's been a while since I've just had a good result."
Fellow Australian Min Woo Lee also charged home with a final-round 65 to tie for 12th with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler at 11 under at the $US20 million ($A28 million) Signature showpiece.
A Saturday 74 also cruelled Lee's hopes of a higher finish following his own runner-up showing last week at Pebble Beach.
Scheffler also closed with a 65 but the American's record 18 consecutive top-10 finishes came to a halt because of an uncharacteristic first-round two-over 74.
Almost inevitably, the spoils - and the $US4m ($A5.6m) winner's cheque - belonged Bridgeman despite a nervy finish including three bogeys and no birdies after the third hole.
The 26-year-old has been knocking on the door all season, with a top-five, top-10 and two top-20 finishes in his previous four 2026 starts.
"This is way, way better than I've ever dreamt it," Bridgeman beamed.
"I thought it was going to be a lot easier than that. It was honestly easy until I got to about 16 and then it got really hard.
"I can't believe it. I made it about as hard as I could have made it I think at the end, making it one shot and having to make a three-footer.
"This is incredible."
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