DELOFTED GOLF UPDATE: Rose Dominates Torrey Pines, Koepka Is Back!
Justin Rose posted a brilliant 65 on Friday, extending his lead at Torrey Pines to four strokes. And guess what? Brooks Koepka made the cut in his PGA Tour comeback. Things were really heating up on the course!
After his 10-under-par opening round on the North Course, the Englishman added another stellar performance on the tougher South Course: a seven-under-par! With two back-to-back birdies to finish, he secured a new 36-hole tournament record with an incredible 17-under 127 strokes. Rose is absolutely on fire!
“Those were two special rounds,” explained the 45-year-old, who won the US Open in 2013 and whose trophy cabinet boasts 12 PGA Tour titles – including the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open, also here at Torrey Pines. “The second one today was probably even more impressive, because it's really tough to deliver like that again right after such a low round.”
Six birdies, an eagle, and only one bogey – now that's a scorecard! Rose revealed after his spectacular round: “I felt like my decision-making was spot-on. I managed my game perfectly.” Of course, not every shot was perfect, he admitted. “But when I was in trouble, the putter was there. Or I stayed disciplined when I was slightly off, aimed for the wide middle of the green, and gave myself a good two-putt chance from 40 feet.” That's game management at its best, folks!
Four shots back, Ireland's Seamus Power lurks in second place. He carded a bogey on his penultimate hole, the eighth, but immediately bounced back with an eagle on the ninth to post a six-under 66. For a total of 131 strokes! “A lot of good stuff out there,” Power summarized. “Yesterday, the scoring came from the putter, but I knew my long game wasn't quite there.” He figured that out after the round. “Today the long game felt much better, and the putter was still there, of course. I feel really good for tomorrow!”
Two strokes behind Power are US pros Joel Dahmen and McMcGreevy. Dahmen fired a 63 with THREE eagles – incredible! McGreevy signed for a 67. Both stand at 11-under 133.
Koepka Makes the Cut – Welcome Back!
Five-time major winner Koepka, who was one of the most prominent names to switch to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour in 2022, is 14 shots behind the leader. But hey, he's in for the weekend – his first PGA Tour event in a long time!
Since the 2022 WGC Match Play, Koepka hadn't played a non-major PGA Tour event, let alone a competitive round in 14 weeks. On Thursday, he posted a one-over 73 and was visibly moved by the warm reception from the fans. That's enough to warm any golfer's heart, isn't it?
Then on Friday, he delivered: an eagle, three birdies, and a 68
