Tiger Woods played 72 holes on the PGA Tour for the first time in more than two years, while Jason Day of Australia and Alex Noren of Sweden are still going.
Day (pictured right) and Noren battled through five playoff holes before darkness halted play on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, and they will return Monday morning to determine who wins the Farmers Insurance Open.
Noren (pictured left) and day each made three birdies and two pars in the playoff, with the Aussie sinking a six-foot birdie putt in near darkness on the last hole of the day before the Swede matched him with a five-footer.
“Alex is playing some tremendous golf,” said Day, who has won 10 times on the PGA Tour including the 2015 PGA Championship. “To be able to go through and go shot for shot there was pretty special.
“I’m just going to try to get some rest tonight and I’ll play all day tomorrow if I need to get the win.”
Ryan Palmer, trying to win on the circuit for the first time since his third victory on the PGA Tour at the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii, hit his approach shot on the final hole of regulation to within 17 inches for a birdie that got him into the playoff, but was eliminated with a par on the first extra hole when Day and Noren both made birdie.
Day closed with a 70 in windy conditions for a 72-hole score of 10-under 278, while Palmer had a 72 and Noren wound up at 73.
“I could barely see the last putt,” said Noren, who has won nine times on the European Tour and is seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour. “But it’s very enjoyable. This is what I play for. I’m excited.”
The 42-year-old Woods, coming back from his fourth back surgery in recent years, shot 72 to finish in a tie for 23rd.
It was the first time he finished 72 holes in an official PGA Tour event since he tied for 10th in the Wyndham Championship late in August of 2015
“I played a lot better (than yesterday) in tough conditions,” said Woods, who will play next in the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades beginning Feb. 15. “I thought if I could shoot 65 it might be a playoff number. I hoped to play even better than I did.
“Overall, I’m pleased with the way I played this week for not having played four rounds in about two years. I thought I was pretty solid and worked hard. But I have to go back to work on everything and execute better.
“I’m happy to get this one under my belt and I can’t wait to play again in a few weeks.”
J.B. Holmes made three late birdies in a 72 and finished one stroke back in fourth, followed by Keegan Bradley, who holed his second shot from 190 yards for an eagle on the 15th hole and was two behind in fifth.
Charles Howell III shot 69 to wind up three down in a tie for sixth with Tony Finau, who totaled 73, while Robert Garrigus shot 70 and was four strokes behind in a tie for eighth with Harris English, who had a 71, Marc Leishman of Australia, who wound up at 73, and Justin Rose of England, who came in at 74.
Defending champion Jon Rahm of Spain struggled to a 77 and tied for 29th, while local favorite Phil Mickelson, who has won this tournament three times, tied for 45th after a 74.
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