SAN DIEGO — Justin Rose had birdie alternatives on all however one gap on the North Course at Torrey Pines on Thursday for a 10-under 62 and a one-shot lead on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open on Brooks Koepka’s return from LIV Golf.
Rose missed final week’s 2026 debut at American Specific. The North Course was simpler, however the competitors was sharp. Regardless of lacking birdies on two of the par 5s, he posted nice scores earlier than heading south.
Justin Decrease, annoyed together with his spouse as they put together to provide start to twins at house, scored a 63 within the North. Hideki Matsuyama and Max Glaserman every posted 64s.
Seamus Energy held two U.S. Opens and posted a low rating of 65 on the South Course, the place he performed to a median rating of 72.482. The typical rating for the North was 69.139 factors. Of the 22 gamers below 67, solely Energy and Max McGreevey (66) had been on the south aspect.
“The Nordschleife is clearly a course that we need to get probably the most out of and it is positively nice to have the ability to do this as we speak,” Rose stated.
He made par from the green on the ninth, par-5 remaining gap, however discovered a bunker and hit it to about 4 toes, lacking his birdie putt. Nonetheless, he solely scrambled as soon as on the 451-yard 14th gap to maintain a clear card.
Final 12 months, Decrease misplaced his full card when the PGA Tour lowered his full FedEx Cup standing from one hundred and twenty fifth the earlier 12 months to high 100. Rower competed at Torrey Pines in a area of 147 members over two programs, so it was essential to benefit from the chance.
And what a time! He already has a 3 12 months outdated youngster. Now his spouse is about to provide start to twins.
“If I am being actually trustworthy with everybody, my coronary heart isn’t right here,” Decrease stated. “My spouse is 34 weeks pregnant with twins. I am again house on Monday attempting to assist out with all the things I can. Fortunately, now we have a household and all the things is in place. Yeah, she’s experiencing it now. Life is about to turn into actual, even when it wasn’t actual but.”
Xander Schauffele, who was born throughout the road from Torrey Pines, was enjoying for the primary time since successful final fall in Japan. He had the longest energetic lower streak with a 72 and was on the ropes early on the south aspect at 3 over after 11 holes.
Nonetheless, he bought a birdie from the green bunker on the twelfth gap, then hit the pin with a shot from the again bunker on the par-5 thirteenth gap for birdie, and ended the spherical by hitting the pin together with his chip on the 18th gap.
The full was 73 factors, simply above common contemplating how laborious Southern performed.
“I used to be pleased with the match,” Schauffele stated. “However I solely hit three fairways, and the North Course can also be tough to laborious. Anybody who’s 8 or 9 below on the North Course is hitting greater than two or three fairways.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
