Justin Rose surged into a four-shot lead at the halfway point of the Farmers Insurance Open, carding a seven-under 65 on the South Course to reach 17 under par. The 45-year-old Englishman, who won at Torrey Pines in 2019, added an eagle on the sixth and five birdies to move clear of the field.
Rose told the Golf Channel: “I was almost thinking on the last couple of holes, I knew I was going to have a decent lead, I was thinking to myself it doesn’t change how you’re going to play this golf course. You have to be respectful. My job is going to be the same as everybody else’s job – it’s just about who plays well.”
Ireland’s Seamus Power sits second on 13 under after a 66, with Americans Joel Dahmen and Max McGreevy a further two shots back. Rose, reflecting on recent near-misses at The Open and The Masters, added: “I’m chasing goals, I’m chasing Majors, I’m chasing big accomplishments but at the same time I’m trying to chase good memories.”
Brooks Koepka made his return to the PGA Tour after being released from his LIV Golf contract. He shot a 68 to make the cut on three under, having improved five shots on his opening round. Koepka said: “68 was kind of the worst I could have shot today. It could easily have been a 64 or 65. I’ve never got so many congratulations on making a cut before.”
The longest active streak of made cuts on the PGA Tour ended as Xander Schauffele missed the weekend for the first time in 73 events, a run stretching back to the 2022 Masters.
