From day one, Justin Rose led the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour, breaking a Tiger Woods record at age 45.
At 45 years old, Justin Rose left his competition no chance at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, winning by seven strokes with a tournament record of 23 under par. He held the lead firmly from the start and set new scoring records after every round.
PGA Tour: Justin Rose Wins with Tournament Record
In the final round, Rose needed only a 70 to secure his comfortable victory. With three birdies on the front nine, the Englishman further extended his lead; on the back nine, he made just one bogey on the 12th hole but had enough cushion to stay relaxed. Instead, he focused on breaking the tournament record of 22 under par, previously set by Tiger Woods in 1999. “That was the only thing I focused on during the last three holes,” Rose said afterward.
“The fact that I could increase my lead every day is something I am naturally proud of as a player because you feel you can handle the pressure from start to finish while continually improving,” Rose said at his winner’s press conference. “Maybe this is something I hadn’t achieved before, so I’m very satisfied with that.”
Although his golf game was nearly flawless, Rose credited his success mainly to his mental performance. “I was just very disciplined this week. Of course I played well, but I managed my game smartly, thought carefully, was patient at the right moments, and compensated for small mistakes by sinking the right putt when it counted. There was a lot of real mental maturity from a strategic golf perspective.”
Stephan Jäger Finishes in Top 5
With Rose untouchable at the top, the rest battled for second place. Pierceson Coody moved up 12 spots with a 65, the best round of the day, sharing second place with Si Woo Kim and Roy Hisatsune. Just behind them was Stephan Jäger in a tie for fifth with a total of 15 under par. He posted a 68 in the final round to secure a strong finish. After missing the cut at the American Express, this result is a positive sign for the new year and his best since the Sony Open in January 2025, despite some inconsistencies during the day.
Brooks Koepka finished the tournament with a 70, tying for 56th and completing his first week back on the PGA Tour. “The biggest change is that I don’t recognize half of the players,” Koepka said. “There have been some changes in the last four years. I know half the guys, the other half I don’t. It will be an exciting year to get to know everyone, and I’m looking forward to it.”