Justin Rose grabs Farmers’ first-round lead with sizzling 62 at Torrey Pines
Justin Rose says he either plays great or not well at all when he comes to Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open.
Rose played great in Thursday’s opening round, shooting a 10-under 62 on the North Course in La Jolla for a one-stroke lead over Justin Lower. Five other players are within five strokes of the lead, including Hideki Matsuyama (64, North).
Some of the biggest names in the field were nearly a dozen shots back after playing the tougher South Course.
A cluster of golfers shot 73s, including defending champion Harris English, PGA returner Brooks Koepka, hometown favorite Xander Schauffele and fellow San Diego State alum Justin Hastings. J.J. Spaun, the third Aztec in the field, shot 75 on the South Course.
“Delighted to kind of go out there and make the most of a perfect day,” said Rose, the 2019 Farmers champion. “I mean, it was just such an enjoyable round of golf. You know, great views. It’s one of my favorite venues on Tour.”
Rose flirted with the course record — 61, shared by Mark Brooks (1990) and Brandt Snedeker (2007) — before missing a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole. Rose did birdie all four par 3s for the first time in his career, a span of 1,506 rounds.
“It’s funny how you can walk off frustrated, for sure,” said Rose, recalling the missed putt on the par-5 ninth hole (his 18th). “I mean, I think the only thing it was just a little tricky putt and I second-guessed it a little bit, played a little bit more break and tried to put it on a speed to let it break and it just kind of like kind of dove across the hole.
“But, no, listen, I made my share out there today. My process was fantastic. I feel like I managed my game really, really well today. I didn’t feel like I played perfect golf … hopefully, there’s things I can smooth out in the next few days as well to kind of hit a few more really quality shots off the tee. But yeah, great start.”
As always, most of the best scores (21 of 23) came on the North Course, which played more than three strokes easier than the South. The top two scores on the South were shot by Seamus Power (65) and Max McGreevy (66).
Lower had the low round of the day until Rose came into the clubhouse one stroke better. Lower still could claim the day’s most impressive performance, given his thoughts were elsewhere.
“If I’m being really truthful with everyone, my mind’s not really here,” Lower said. “My wife is 34 weeks pregnant with twins, and I’m just trying to get home on Monday, honestly, to try to help everything out as much as I can. Luckily, we have family close and everything. Yeah, she’s going through it right now. Life’s about to get real if it wasn’t real already.”
Tony Finau shot an even-par 72 on the South, needing a hole-in-one of the par-3 16th hole to do it.
The players now switch courses for Friday’s second round. The 147-man field will be trimmed to the top 65 players and ties for the final two rounds on the South Course.