SAN DIEGO — Jon RahmTorrey Pines South was his favorite course, and he struggled to a 1-over score of 73. Sam Ryder, Aaron RaiAnd Brent GrantAll three shot 8-under 64 on Wednesdays more difficult North Course to tie for the lead in the Farmers Insurance Opens first round.
Rahm is ranked No. Rahm, ranked No. 3 in the world, attempted to win his third consecutive win in as many starts. He made a double-bogey on the par-4 7th hole and was frustrated on the South Course. He won his first PGA Tour win in 2017 at the municipal courses above the Pacific Ocean. In 2021, he won the U.S. Open on South Course.
Rahm, who was trying to win his 10th career victory on tour, was tied for the 116th spot with 11 others, including his playing partner Tony FinauAnd Justin Rose.
As he signed autographs in the dimming sun, the Spanish star declared Not good. Rahm won The American Express at PGA West last weekend in Coachella Valley and the Sentry Tournament of Champions two weeks earlier at Kapalua.
Ryder Rai, Grant and Grant have never been victorious on tour. Ryder has now missed three consecutive cuts. Grants last four rounds were 74 or worse. They had a one shot lead. Brendan SteeleDefending champion was at 7-under65, with seven other players scoring another shot at 6-under66. Champion defender Luke ListAnd Collin MorikawaNo. 8 were ranked No.
The North Course was used by the top six finishers as well as 13 of the top 18. With stronger winds forecast for Thursday, players will switch courses and play the final two rounds of the South Course.
PGA Tour rookie Sam StevensAnd Andrew NovakHe had the best round on the South Course. Both were in group at 66.
Rahm was 2 under through six holes, before he shot his second shot on No. 7 over the green in a brushy native area. After taking a penalty along with a drop in right rough, he chipped onto green and two-putted.
Rahm then bogeyed Nos. 12 and 15 before Rahm birdied the par-3 16th.
No. Rahm said that 7 was undoubtedly the best swing of today and cost me two shots. Ive hit that shot more than 25 times in the past with exactly the same wind. Ive never seen the ball go pin high, and today we don’t know what happened. It ended up flying the pin 10 yards in the hazard. Its fine if it flies the green and stays in rough. But that was very expensive.
The main thing today was the tee shots that I hit on 6, 7, 12, and 13; I was three over par. Ive never played here before and Im playing this round at least par to under par. Its a three-to-five-shot swing, and thats what makes the difference.
Ryder, a 33 year-old still searching for his first victory on tour, opened his round by opening his round with an eagle at the par-5 10th.
No. He said that 10 is the easiest hole on the course, a short par 5, beautiful hole looking down towards the ocean. You are thinking that it would be nice to hit it in a fairway and then hit it on a green. You think OK, maybe I could make a 4. Although I wasn’t thinking attack, attacker, the putt was quite simple. It was actually quite straight. When it was halfway there, it looked pretty great and it just kinda fell in perfect. Its almost a bonus, but really nice to start the round off with a birdie.
DIVOTS: No one could have done a faster turnaround with the Wednesday start Scott Brown. He was competing in the Kornfery Tour in Bahamas, a tournament which began Sunday and ended Wednesday. Brown realized that he was Torrey Pines first alternate after making the cut Monday. John Huh withdrew. Brown withdrew form the Bahamas. He flew to San Diego Tuesday and was part of the first group out Wednesday morning. He shot a 3-under-69 on the North Course.