England’s Justin Rose delivered an impressive performance at the Farmers Insurance Open, shooting a brilliant seven-under-par 65 and extending his lead to four strokes. The 45-year-old golfer now sits at an outstanding 17 under, having bested his own 36-hole tournament record. Rose’s exemplary Friday round at the challenging South Course included an eagle, six birdies, and just one bogey.
Reflecting on his success, Rose stated, “I feel like in my career I’ve won on tough golf courses generally, so that’s my M.O., I would say.” The 2025 Masters runner-up highlighted that he enjoys the atmosphere of the tournament, saying it’s “one of my favourite tournaments on Tour, just the whole area, the whole atmosphere, the whole vibe.”
On the other hand, Brooks Koepka made strides in his return to the PGA Tour, finishing the second round with a score of 68 to comfortably make the cut at three under. The five-time major champion, who had struggled with a 73 on the South Course on Thursday, found his rhythm on the North Course, impressively sinking an eagle putt on the 17th hole. Koepka acknowledged his nerves during the initial round, saying, “I was excited to play, nervous, and kind of didn’t know what to expect, but today felt more normal.” He remains optimistic about his game, noting that despite the long layoff, he feels that he is playing well.
Additionally, the tournament saw the end of Xander Schauffele’s stretch of 72 consecutive cuts made, the longest active streak on Tour. Notable golfers who also did not make the cut include Patrick Cantlay, Gary Woodland, Will Zalatoris, JJ Spaun, Max Homa, and Ludvig Aberg.
Overall, the Farmers Insurance Open is shaping up to be an exciting tournament, with Rose firmly at the top and Koepka making a notable comeback. As the competition continues, fans are eager to see how the remainder of the tournament unfolds.