Ludvig Aberg and Lanto Griffin share the lead on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open as ferocious winds pressured a 90-minute delay and prevented dozens of gamers from ending the second spherical.
First-round chief and Swedish Ryder Cup star Aberg fought to a six-over 75, whereas Griffin shot 72 to go away them each on six underneath general.
Aberg made three bogeys in 5 holes on the entrance 9 and added a double on the 14th, with American Griffin managing three birdies on his again 9 as he managed a stage par 72, regardless of describing some photographs as “brutal” within the circumstances.
Danny Walker is a shot again in third and Chris Gotterup’s 69, the joint-best rating of the day, vaulted him as much as fourth together with Hayden Springer and Sungjae Im at four-under.
The gamers battled sturdy, inconsistent wind gusts measured at greater than 35mph on the famed Torrey Pines coastal course higher recognized for foggy marine layers than disruptive climate. Some gusts moved stationary balls and ripped hats off heads earlier than marshals suspended play.
“Throw the score out the window,” stated Griffin, who earned his PGA Tour card at Q-school final month.
“[On] a traditional day, 72 is nice on this golf course, and right this moment was simply head-down grind. Strolling to the thirteenth tee, it began gusting 35mph, most likely, so there are specific photographs like 13 tee that have been simply brutal, the 9 tee blowing straight off the left.
“It was kind of hang on for dear life, try and save pars on majority of the holes and sprinkle in a birdie or two.”
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Wind strikes Hideki Matsuyama’s ball earlier than birdie putt throughout his second spherical on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open
The delay started simply after 2pm native time and lasted till 3.31pm, forcing the gamers to play shortly in only diminished wind for a shot at ending their rounds.
The North Course is extra uncovered to the ocean, so the wind was significantly brutal on gamers like world No. 4 Hideki Matsuyama, who might solely watch in disgust whereas his well-considered putts went nowhere close to their supposed vacation spot. Matsuyama nonetheless managed a 75 and made the minimize at one-under.
Within the opening spherical, the scores on the simpler North Course (70.2) have been considerably higher than on the South Course (72.5). Because of the wind, the South Course (75.3) truly performed simpler than the North (75.6) on Thursday.
Ludvig Aberg strolling to the fifteenth gap of the South Course at a gusty Torrey Pines
“It was extremely difficult,” stated Eric Cole, who was three photographs off the lead after managing to complete his second-round 71 moments earlier than the stoppage.
“It started really blowing on like our second or third hole, so we had a solid six holes of really heavy winds. Then it almost died down and switched directions for a few holes.
“Very tough and really distinctive. I do know it could blow right here slightly, however it simply appeared like additional gusty and (was) form of switching instructions for slightly, so it made it powerful.”
No person had a bogey-free spherical whereas battling the wind that blew clouds of grime and sand into the Pacific Ocean all afternoon.
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A brush hearth additionally broke out about 4 miles south of Torrey Pines and burned three acres close to the UC San Diego campus, however 175 firefighters shortly stopped its ahead progress, based on San Diego Fireplace-Rescue.
Some gamers did not watch for the resumption of play: Max Homa, the 2023 champion of this occasion, withdrew through the stoppage with simply three holes left to play, citing sickness late in his second straight dismal spherical.
Beginner Luke Clanton, a Florida State junior, moved up the leaderboard on the entrance 9 earlier than making three bogeys amid the worst wind circumstances. He elected to cease for the day together with his tee shot on the seventeenth sitting in the appropriate tough, the place he’ll resume his second spherical Friday.
Defending champion Matthieu Pavon had one other poor day as he carded eight-over 80 within the second spherical to complete properly exterior the projected minimize line and 2023 winner Max Homa withdrawing because of sickness through the wind delay on nine-over par.
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