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Tournaments

Tiger is back, Jon Rahm leads, and other things you missed from Round 1 at Torrey Pines

Jessica MarksburyBy Jessica Marksbury
January 25, 2019

The PGA Tour’s 2019 West Coast swing continues with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines this week — the 51st year the iconic San Diego course has hosted the tournament.
Tiger Woods is on site for his first event of the year, and his presence created plenty of buzz and excitement. Here’s what you missed from Round 1.

Tiger’s round was up and down

Currently the world’s 13th-ranked player, Woods had expectations running high — especially at a tournament where he’s thrived in the past. (Woods has eight career wins at Torrey Pines).
But Round 1 was pretty meh for the Big Cat, whose five birdies were mitigated by three bogeys. He finished at two under on the day, currently T51 and eight shots shy of Jon Rahm’s lead.


 

Speaking of Rahm…

After battling the flu and rallying to finish 6th at last week’s Desert Classic in La Quinta, Jon Rahm proved he has plenty of firepower left in the tank with an impressive first-round score of 62 on Thursday. That’s 10 under par!
Rahm made two eagles on his opening nine (Nos. 10 and 17) and carded seven birdies, including four in a row on holes 5-8.


The 24 year old is seeking his third career Tour win this week — and his second win in his last three starts at Torrey Pines.
 

The World No. 1 is in the mix

After a middle-of-the-pack T34 performance last week, Justin Rose came back with a vengeance in Round 1 with a stellar score of 63. Rose also wins the perfect scorecard award, with seven birdies, one eagle and no bogeys. 

Honma's Mark King and Justin Rose
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Who made the most birdies? The answer might surprise you.

Jon Rahm may have shot the lowest score on Thursday, but 22-year-old Doug Ghim had more birdies. The once top-ranked amateur turned pro last summer and made made NINE birds and and eagle at Torrey on Thursday, and had it not been for two unfortunate bogeys, the youngster could have been on 59 watch.