Stephan Jäger is in the top 5 after an excellent 65 in the first round of the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open. Brooks Koepka faces challenges in his return.
Stephan Jäger had a fantastic start on Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. With a round of 65, he tied for 5th place, staying close to the leaders. The other Germans had a tougher time, with Thomas Rosenmüller shooting 2 under par for a T55, Jeremy Paul at even par in T87, and Matti Schmid, who finished 1 over par and tied for 101 to move on to the second day. LIV Golf returnee Brooks Koepka also struggled in his first tournament back on the American tour, tying with Schmid at T101. Leading after day one is Justin Rose at 10 under par.
PGA Tour: Stephan Jäger Nearly Flawless
Stephan Jäger delivered his best start in some time at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. On the North Course of Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, he played a nearly flawless round, only stumbling at the beginning. His second shot on the first hole landed in a greenside bunker, leading to a bogey after failing the up and down. Unshaken, Jäger bounced back with a birdie on the third hole after a strong tee shot on the 150-meter par 3. His momentum climbed during an excellent stretch on holes 7 to 9, where he made three birdies, reaching 3 under par after the front nine. A standout moment was his birdie on the eighth hole; after landing in a bunker, he played an outstanding shot from the sand that rolled directly into the hole. He carried this momentum over the back nine with two birdies to start and two more on the 16th and 17th holes, finishing the round at 7 under par and tied for 5th heading into the week.
Thomas Rosenmüller had a steadier round. Like Jäger, he began with his only bogey of the day but birdied the ninth to even par on the front nine. Additional birdies on holes 11 and 17 gave him a 70 and tied for 55th place.
Jeremy Paul started on the back nine but faltered on the front nine with three consecutive bogeys after three birdies and a bogey earlier on. Eventually, he finished even par and tied for 87th.
Matti Schmid, also starting on the back nine, managed three birdies but with inconsistent putting resulted in four bogeys, ending at +1 and tied for 101st after day