Torrey Pines, California ….
World No. 1 Justin Rose is primed to surpass Nick Faldo as the winningest England-born golfer should he clinch victory at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Rose, and in his second PGA Tour event of the year, continued to make somewhat of a mockery of packing a complete set of new Japanese Honma clubs carding a round of 69 and remain three shots clear of his rivals for a 18-under par tally.
Rose grabbed a ninth-hole eagle along with six birdies but also posted two doubles in his round as well as a bogey at his last.
The Englishman has won just once before in the first month of a new year in his 21-year pro career and that was in capturing the first of 23 worldwide victories at the 2002 Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
And Rose will head into the final round tied with Faldo with nine PGA Tour counting victories apiece and with ‘modern era’ PGA Tour history now beckoning for Rose.
Justin Rose looking now to win in January for only the second time in his career. (Photo – @tourmiss)
“Yeah, obviously delighted with how I’m playing this week. Felt like I’ve kind of clicked into a nice little rhythm being quite focused. I think that really sort of worked on my mental sharpness I suppose from Palm Springs last week into this week,” said Rose.
“My game felt pretty good last week, but didn’t really score. This week I’ve done a nice job of kind of getting into my shots and executing a bit better and obviously the scores are responding.”
Adam Scott celebrated Australia Day with a ‘best-round-of the-day’ 65 to muscle his way into second place at 15-under par with Spaniard Jon Rahm (68) third at 14-under.
Scott, and competing in his first event of the New Year, began his round with a birdie and the first and then brillianlty holed a 103-yard wedge shot for eagle ‘2’ at the par-4 second hole.
Nick Faldo wins his 9th and final PGA Tour trophy in capturing the 1997 Nissan Open.
The Aussie picked-up six further birdies, including an important birdie at the last while he also dropped two shots over the round.
Scott and Rose are the best of friends and with their friendship going back to 2000 when both players were competing on the European Tour but with Scott knowing that the Farmers Insurance Open is now Rose’s to lose.
“If Justin plays like this, he’s going to be very hard to catch because I thought shooting 7 under, maybe I
could make up more than two today,” said Scott.
“I might not even make that many up. He seems to be in total control, so a lot of it’s on his golf club at the moment. If I can just play another solid round, that would be good for me anyway; good for the confidence, get this season going
and look forward to all the big events coming up.”
Spaniard Jon Rahm will make-up the final match final day three-ball and lying in third place at 14-under par thanks to a third day 68.
Tiger Woods saved the best for last with up-and-down birdie from a bunker in a frustrating 71 for a five-under par tally.
“I finally drove it good but didn’t hit my irons very close and again I had a bunch of close calls on putts that just didn’t go in,” said Woods.
“The goal now tomorrow is to get to double digits, it would be nice.
“It’s not too much to ask if I play well. If I drive the ball like I have, hit my irons a little more crisp and make a few putts, I should be able to do that.”
