Scott Brown, Andrew Loupe share Farmers Insurance Open lead
Scott Brown and Phil Mickelson both had reason to believe it could be a long day on the South Course at Torrey Pines. It turned out just fine Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open, especially for Brown.
Brown hit into a hazard and made bogey on the first par 5 he faced and was 2 over through six holes. He finished with eight birdies over his last 11 holes for a 6-under 66, giving him a share of the lead with Andrew Loupe.
Only it felt much better for Brown because it was on the South, which played 2 1/2 shots harder than the North Course where Loupe shot his 66.
Taken by itself, the par-5 18th hole at Torrey Pines' South course on Friday afternoon summed up the beautiful run of golf Jason Day put together late in 2015 to briefly attain the No. 1 ranking and stamp himself a force among a slew of young contenders in the game.
He striped a drive 321 yards into the fairway, from where he knocked his second shot from 242 yards onto the green, setting up a 30-foot eagle putt. He missed, but settled for an easy birdie, showing the kind of power that can at times allow the Australian to dominate.
The problem, of course, was that was Day's only birdie of the day. He shot 74 after opening the tournament with a 72 on the easier North course. His title defense at the Farmers Insurance Open was over before it really had a chance to begin.
Taken by itself, the par-5 18th hole at Torrey Pines' South course on Friday afternoon summed up the beautiful run of golf Jason Day put together late in 2015 to briefly attain the No. 1 ranking and stamp himself a force among a slew of young contenders in the game.
He striped a drive 321 yards into the fairway, from where he knocked his second shot from 242 yards onto the green, setting up a 30-foot eagle putt. He missed, but settled for an easy birdie, showing the kind of power that can at times allow the Australian to dominate.
The problem, of course, was that was Day's only birdie of the day. He shot 74 after opening the tournament with a 72 on the easier North course. His title defense at the Farmers Insurance Open was over before it really had a chance to begin.
Phil Mickelson ends round on three bogeys to miss Farmers Insurance Open cut
Phil Mickelson had a hard time explaining what happened Friday in the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and will have the weekend to think about it.
Gary Woodland, K.J. Choi and Dustin Johnson had no trouble describing their fine play and hope to keep riding their good form until Sunday’s sunset.
Winter arrived with a vengeance Sunday in Southern California, and while it wasn't exactly Lambeau Field in January, it was about as brutal as it gets in golf.
Gusting winds, sideways rain, cold temperatures and generally miserable conditions greeted players for the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open. It was a storm all knew was coming, but one that arrived earlier than expected and led to two morning stoppages of play and a third in the afternoon.