Justin Rose made waves at the Farmers Insurance Open, establishing a new 36-hole record at Torrey Pines. In a notable performance on the South course, he outperformed his previous record by two strokes, leading the tournament with a four-shot advantage.
Breakout Performance at Torrey Pines
Rose began his tournament on the North course, scoring an impressive 62. This performance was significantly below the field average of 7.139 strokes. On the challenging South course, he maintained his momentum, finishing with a 7-under par 65, which was 7.392 shots better than the field average. His total score of 17-under 127 surpassed his own previous record set in 2019, as well as marks set by Tom Lehman in 2005 and Lennie Clements in 1996.
Upcoming Challenges: Brooks Koepka’s Return
Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, returned to the PGA Tour during this tournament after four seasons with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. He finished with a score of 68 on the North course, just making the cut. Koepka is 14 strokes behind Rose, indicating a considerable challenge moving forward.
Notable Absences
- Xander Schauffele, a two-time major champion and local San Diego player, missed the cut, ending his streak at 72 tournaments.
- Schauffele’s last missed weekend was at the 2022 Masters.
Other Competitors
Seamus Power from Ireland is currently Rose’s closest competitor, finishing the day at 13-under after a solid 66 on the North course. Michael McGreevy and Joel Dahmen also performed well, with scores of 67 and 63 respectively, sitting six shots behind Rose.
Player Reflections and Future Prospects
Rose acknowledged the demanding nature of the South course. He noted that awareness of a strong leaderboard allowed him to maintain focus as he attempted to navigate the difficult conditions. As for Koepka, he shared his excitement about the tournament, citing nerves yet feeling a sense of normalcy during his rounds.
The cut line was set at 3-under-par 141, with competitive play expected as the tournament progresses. Scottie Scheffler, now taking over the longest active cut streak at 65, has not yet approached Tiger Woods’ all-time record of 142.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on whether any competitors can challenge Rose’s commanding lead.
