World No. 1 Justin Rose of England is on top again.
Rose recorded a 6-under-par 66 on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com in La Jolla to take a three-stroke lead over Hideki Matsuyama of Japan after two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open.
“I got going early in the round with three birdies and just got it rolling,” said Rose, who tied for 34th last week in his first event of 2019 after closing last year with a victory in the Turkish Airlines Open in November. “Suddenly, I was cruising after six holes.
“Obviously, I’m striking the ball well. You have to be patient on the South Course and then look for birdies when you have good numbers. It was nice to go out and play well to build for the weekend.”
Rose, who opened with a 63 on the easier North Course, tied the tournament record in the 67th edition of the San Diego-area event with a 36-hole total of 15-under 129.
Matsuyama, trying to bounce back from a sub-par 2018 after winning four times on the PGA Tour in the two previous years, chipped in for an eagle from 42 yards on the sixth hole in another 66 on the South Course.
Seventh-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain, the first-round leader who won the Farmers two years ago, managed only a 72 on the South Course and is five shots back in a tie for fourth with Billy Horschel, who stumbled with three late bogeys in a 68 on the South Course, and Ryan Palmer, who birdied three of the last three holes for a 67 on the North.
Sangmoon Bae of South Korea birdied three of his last four holes to shoot 67 on the South Course and is six down in a tie for sixth with Joel Dahmen, who birdied three holes on each nine in a 67 on the North Course, and Si Woo Kim of South Korea, who recorded a 68 on the South.
John Huh of Los Angeles and Cal State Northridge shot 68 on the North Course and is seven behind in a tie for ninth with eighth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (65- North), Adam Scott of Australia (66-North), Sepp Straka of Austria (67-South), Sam Burns (66-North), Bud Cauley (70-South), Charles Howell III (70-North), Doug Ghim (73-South) and Wyndham Clark (67-North).
Defending champion Jason Day of Australia finished at 71 on the South and is in a tie for 30th that includes 10th-ranked Tony Finau, who totaled 69 on the North.
Sixth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State is tied for 37th following a 70 on the North Course, and Tiger Woods, who has won eight times at Torrey Pines, wound up at 70 on the North and is tied for 48th.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
