Farmers Insurance Open: Justin Rose secures record-breaking victory
England’s Justin Rose had an extremely dominant win at the Farmers Insurance Open, setting a new tournament record.
Rose, the 2019 winner, had a six-shot lead ahead of Sunday’s fourth round at Torrey Pines’ South Course and rarely had trouble over his final 18 holes.
He completed the race with a score of 2-under-par 70, seven points out of 23, and won his 13th PGA Tour championship.
The 45-year-old, whose last win was at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August, made birdies on the sixth, eighth and ninth, and his only putt was bogey on the 12th.
The previous best winning score in tournament history was 22 under by Tiger Woods in 1999 and George Burns in 1987.
Rose also became the oldest player to achieve a wire-to-wire finish on tour (leading all four rounds) since Rocco Mediate at age 47 in October 2010.
“This was a huge win and it’s great to start the season with a win,” Rose said.
“I knew under 23 was a record. I increased the lead every day, so I wanted to finish the race seven ahead instead of six.
“Ultimately I had my own little mini goals that kept me focused and that was very important and I managed my game well.
“I still love it and work hard and believe I have some good things ahead of me.”
American Pierceson Coody shot the best round of the day with a score of 7-under-par 65 and took second place next to Si Woo Kim from South Korea and Ryo Hisatsune from Japan (69).
American Jake Knapp and Germany’s Stephan Jaeger hit another putback.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka finished in a tie for 56th after a final round of 70 in his first tournament on the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf.
