Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas, two of the three leaders at the Farmers Insurance Open, you may know well. The third, you may not. But maybe this is all the background you need. Is Adam Schenk ready for Rahm and Thomas? In prime time on Friday, to boot? You know it. “I’m right there, doing a lot of things well, so just need to get the ball in the fairway a little more often,” he said. OK, you should know the 30-year-old who grew up on a sod farm in Indiana is a bit humble, too. But he’ll be there. Here are three things you need to know after Thursday’s second round, played at the North and South Courses at Torrey Pines, in San Diego.
Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and Adam Schenk lead
Among the three leaders, who finished at 13-under overall on Thursday, Schenk was low man. In fact, he was better than everyone, except Alex Smalley, who equaled his 10-under 62.
Schenk parred his first three holes, then played the next eight at eight-under — he birdied all of them — and tacked on two more. Notably, Schenk said he has birdied eight straight before — “at Swan Lake at the age group championship,” he said.
“Then bogeyed my ninth,” he added, “and birdied the next. So I had done it before, obviously not on the PGA Tour, on this stage.”
Indeed. Meanwhile, Rahm, who won both his first-ever tournament (the 2017 Farmers) and last year’s U.S. Open at Torrey, birdied three of his first four holes, and three of his final four, and shot a 65. Thomas, playing with Rahm, carded nine birdies and no bogeys in his round of 63.
“I was in very good control,” Thomas said. “There’s still some shots that didn’t come off how I would have liked, but for the most part, I was hitting it a lot more solid, the ball was starting in the window I wanted. I played solidly.”
Cameron Tringale is one shot back
One shot back of the leaders is Cameron Tringale, who shot a 65 on the North Course, and two back was Peter Malnati, who shot a 66 on the North. Four back were six players.
Among the group at eight-under was Sungjae Im, who shot the day’s low round on the South Course with a 66.
Bryson DeChambeau appears to have hurt himself
Bryson DeChambeau, at various points on the back nine of the South Course, reached for his back and wrist, and his status moving forward is unknown. After an even-par 72, he was among the players to miss the cut.
Also missing out on Friday and Saturday play — the tournament is being played Wednesday through Saturday — were Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth.
