Patrick Reed hits his tee shot on Thursday on the 12th hole of the North Course at Torrey Pines.
Getty Images
Thirty-one golfers are within four shots of the lead. They made golf look easy. Four played the South Course at Torrey Pines. Or the course that will host the U.S. Open in June. They made golf look easy. On the harder course. Here are three things you need to know after Thursday’s first round of the Farmers Insurance Open, played on two courses at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
Each shot eight-under 64s — Reed made eight birdies and no bogeys, and Noren had seven birdies, a bogey and an eagle — for a one-stroke lead over Scottie Scheffler, who also played the North. Twelve players are two shots back, though only Peter Malnati and Ryan Palmer played the South.
“Felt like I hit the ball well,” Reed said. “Left myself with a lot of good opportunities, a lot of makeable putts, and when you’re doing that around a golf course like the North, you have to go take advantage of it, especially with what’s coming within the next 24 hours.”
Malnati had seven birdies and an eagle in his round, and Palmer made seven birdies.
Rory McIlroy is four shots back
The five players who are three shots back all played the North. Two of the 11 players who are four strokes back — Rory McIlroy and Lucas Glover — played the South.
McIlroy played his front nine at four under and his back at even.
“I got off to a great start, four under through nine,” McIlroy said. “A little disappointed I didn’t pick up a couple more on the way in, especially with the two par-5s, not picking up any shots there. Yeah, I think anytime you shoot 68 on the South Course here you’ve got to be pretty happy.”
Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash away his score. You can reach out to him about any of these topics — his stories, his game or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.