Englishman Justin Rose breezed to a bogey-free, 10-under-par 62 to take the first-round lead at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday in San Diego.
Rose had five birdies on each nine at Torrey Pines’ North Course and could have tied the course record with a birdie at his final hole, the par-5 ninth, but after hitting a greenside bunker he failed to convert a short birdie putt.
Rose’s 10th birdie at the previous hole — the par-3 eighth, where he stuck his tee shot to a few feet from the pin — moved him past Justin Lower (9-under 63) for the outright lead. Max Greyserman and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama were tied for third at 8 under.
All four of those players started the tournament on the North Course and will have to face the more challenging South Course on Friday. Everyone in the field will play one round at each course, and those who make the 36-hole cut will spend the weekend on the South Course.
The best round of the day at the South Course belonged to Irishman Seamus Power, who turned in a 7-under 65 after birdieing the last three holes.
Brooks Koepka shot a 1-over 73 at the South Course in his first round back on the PGA Tour. After spending most of the last four years on LIV Golf, Koepka rejoined the PGA Tour this season by mutual agreement that included a financial penalty. This tournament marked his first start in a non-major on tour since March 2022.
Koepka did not make a birdie until the par-5 18th, where he overshot the green on his second stroke but chipped on to 8 feet.
The five-time major winner wasn’t the only marquee name who struggled on the South Course. Xander Schauffele also opened with a 1-over 73 there, as did defending champion Harris English. Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, a top-20 player in the world rankings, had five bogeys in a row at one point and is tied for last at 6-over 78.
–Field Level Media
