SAN DIEGO — Joel Dahmen arrived on the PGA Tour too late to see Tiger Woods in his prime at Torrey Pines. He witnessed what is likely to be the subsequent smartest thing Saturday — Justin Rose controlling the sport on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, leaving the remainder of the sector feeling hopeless.
Rose prolonged his result in eight strokes with a efficiency that satisfied Woods. Just a few errors on the again 9 slowed him down, and he ended up with a 4-under 68 and a six-point lead. That is the most important 54-hole distinction within the match since Woods led by eight in 2008.
“I had enjoyable taking part in on the golf course this week, and I wish to proceed to get pleasure from the entire week,” Rose stated. “Sure, an awesome spherical on a pleasant golf course with good climate.”
Rose began with a four-shot lead and made a powerful three-hole birdie run on the entrance 9. On the fifth, he put his pitching wedge 6 toes to the again pin, then on the par-5 sixth he hit a 7-wood excessive on the pin, then a 9-iron over the timber to five toes, the pin simply above the bunker.
“He hit a number of pins and I used to be actually impressed, however then the pin went to 4 toes and he tapped it for birdie,” Dahmen stated. “That is once I realized I used to be taking part in rather well, and it simply saved taking place.”
However whereas Rose sheepishly admitted he did not intend to be that aggressive, the seventh gap caught his consideration.
“There isn’t any manner we are able to afford to overlook this,” Damen stated. “It at all times finally ends up being a protracted play as a result of the wind is beginning to choose up within the canyon over there. So from the primary minimize he needed to fly it excessive up into the timber — it might have flown to dying — and he hit it on the moon, and it is 4 toes tall.
“You do not hit pictures like that in a follow spherical, particularly once you’re six or seven strokes forward on Saturday,” he stated. “At that time, it was like, ‘Okay, you win.’
Rose’s 21-under 195 broke his 2019 54-hole match report by three strokes and tied him with Kyle Stanley (2012), Woods (2008) and Woody Blackburn (1985). Stanley was the one one lacking out on a win, shedding a five-shot lead.
Rose has been round lengthy sufficient to take nothing as a right. And he was the benefactor of then-world No. 1 participant Dustin Johnson, who misplaced a six-shot lead on the 2017 HSBC Champions.
“You are by no means glad,” Rose stated. “I feel behind my thoughts I will at all times have quite a lot of respect for the sport of golf. Tomorrow I’ve bought to do every little thing proper. I’ll play, so I’ve bought to be targeted and play effectively.”
Woods just about owns the general public course alongside the Pacific Cliffs and has received eight skilled tournaments, together with the U.S. Open.
Brooks Koepka, who returned to the PGA Tour from the Saudi-funded LIV Golf, performed a strong spherical except for a brief putt. He made a double bogey on a 3-foot par putt on the par-3 eleventh gap and bogeyed a 3-foot birdie putt on the ultimate gap, the par-5 ninth. He missed six putts inside 5 toes and shot a 73.
“I’ve by no means felt comfy in Poa (bluegrass). I simply make a number of errors and my confidence is zero,” he stated. “I attempted to be aggressive like at all times and attempt to get away, however I did not even get to the opening. I do not know. I am simply going to assume it was a nasty day. However apart from that, I am pleased with every little thing.”
Is it over already?
“My solely hope is that (Rose) would not sound the alarm and in some way begins hitting it within the tough on the again 9,” Dahmen stated after capturing a 68 to guide the B League by six factors. “I do not know. The best way he is taking part in and what he is doing, I might be pleased with second place.”
It is a massive week for Damen. That is as a result of he completed outdoors the FedEx Cup prime 100 within the yr the tour grew to become a full-card match. He has conditional standing and was solely capable of run within the Farmers Insurance coverage Open as a result of the 2 programs allowed for a wider discipline.
He additionally has a sponsorship exemption for subsequent week’s WM Phoenix Open, so it is a good time to vary his fortunes. A robust Sunday will do wonders.
In the meantime, Rose continues to get pleasure from what she as soon as known as “Indian Summer time.”
At 45, he grew to become the oldest participant on Europe’s Ryder Cup successful staff by seven years. Rose stated final week that his focus can be on taking part in within the 2027 Ryder Cup, even when Luke Donald declines the captaincy for a 3rd time.
If he wins, he’ll transfer as much as 4th place on the planet rankings.
“Justin is admittedly good at golf proper now,” Damen stated.
