SAN DIEGO: Sam Ryder held a three-shot lead at the Farmers Insurance Open with a 4-under 68 in a challenging windy second round on Thursday at the South Course of Torrey Pines, while Jon Rahm carded an eagle and three late in his 5. Straight to birdie. -Under 67 on the easy North Course to get under the cut line.
Ryder survived both the Santa Ana wind and the tough South Course to card a 12-under 132 with only one bogey and take a three-stroke lead over Brendan Steele, who shot a 70 on the South Course. Tano Goya was two shots behind after a 67 on the North Course.
The Santa Ana wind is blowing out of the desert and down the mountains, gusts up to 30 miles per hour for most of the day. It also sent tumbleweeds onto leaves, branches and even lush trees, and cardboard garbage cans were tumbling down hills.
“Yesterday was very easy, today was very tough,” said Rahm, who earned his first Tour win here in 2017 and then won the 2021 US Open on the blufftop municipal course overlooking the Pacific Ocean. “On any one course here, especially in the south, and when you get poa annua bumpy greens with this wind, it can be a nightmare, so glad I made some.”
Rahm, ranked No. 3 in the world and looking to win three straight earlier this year, came back from an opening 73 on the South Course to warm up on his back nine. He birdied the par-5 fifth and then carded three straight birdies. He had a chance for another eagle on the par-4 seventh but his long putt caught the left edge and slid nearly a foot away.
After his disappointing debut, “anything in the ’60s would have been amazing,” Rahm said. “What I shot today, man, I’m going out on the golf course today because it’s a great round of golf.”
Rahm, who won The American Express last weekend, started on the ninth hole and opened with consecutive birdies but bogeyed his third and ninth holes. He was also going into the par-5 fifth when he started running with an eagle.
“There are five to nine holes, with or without the wind, where you can take advantage of the course,” said the Spanish star. “Fortunately, I’m hitting it really well. There’s no difference between those holes or any other five, four holes you can choose from throughout the round, it’s all guesswork with the right wind in them. I think maybe after the second shot on 6 I was a little more aggressive and got in the mindset of making birdies instead of being a little tentative, which is easier to do when it’s as difficult as it was flying today Was.
Rahm, who finished tied for 14th on Wednesday from 116th, said the cut line never crossed my mind.
“I was playing with the mindset of catching the leaders as much as possible, that’s all.”
The 33-year-old Ryder, who has never won on the PGA Tour, started at a distance after sharing the first round lead with Aaron Rai and Brent Grant. Grant was in a group of six under 6s.
“Yeah, feels great. I keep telling myself to try and embrace it,” Ryder said. “It’s not a situation that I’m into a lot, you know, so Just trying to enjoy it. It’s kind of why we play, so just trying to look around and enjoy the moment.
“And I’m hitting everything very solid. It starts off the tee for me, I’m driving it well. My iron play is really good, so I think if I keep it in the fairway, I can attack. And I don’t think I really missed many shots today. I missed a few fairways, but the irons have been really good.”
Will Zalatoris, ranked No. 7 in the world, missed the cut after shooting a 5-over 77 on the South Course.
The final two rounds will be held on the South Course.