Stephan Jäger sits in the Top 5 after an impressive 65 in the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka faces challenges in his comeback.
Stephan Jäger delivered an outstanding start to the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday, shooting a 65 to tie for 5th and stay close to the lead. Other German players had a tougher time, with Thomas Rosenmüller shooting 2 under par to tie for 55th, ahead of Jeremy Paul who finished even par at T87, and Matti Schmid who finished one over par at T101, heading into the second round. LIV Golf returnee Brooks Koepka also struggled, finishing at 1 over par and tied with Schmid. Justin Rose leads the tournament after the first day with 10 under par.
PGA Tour: Stephan Jäger Nearly Flawless
Stephan Jäger had his best start in a long time at the Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course North Course in San Diego. His round was nearly perfect except for a bogey on the first hole where his second shot landed in a bunker and he failed to get up and down. Undeterred, he birdied hole 3 and then had a hot streak between holes 7 to 9, making three birdies to reach 3 under par after the front nine. A highlight was his birdie on hole 8, where he holed a brilliant bunker shot. He maintained momentum on the back nine with birdies on holes 10, 11, 16, and 17, finishing with a 7 under par round and placing him fifth heading into the week.
Thomas Rosenmüller had a steadier round, starting with a bogey but rebounding with birdies on holes 9, 11, and 17 to finish at even par 70 and tied for 55th.
Jeremy Paul started on the back nine but faltered on the front nine with three bogeys among his three birdies and one bogey, ending even par and T87.
Matti Schmid also began on the back nine, achieving three birdies but four bogeys left him at +1, tied for 101st and needing a strong second round to make the cut.
Brooks Koepka Faces Struggles in Return
Brooks Koepka is undergoing an emotional week after announcing his return to the PGA Tour following three years with LIV Golf. Making his first start since March 2022, Koepka’s round was challenging. After three pars to start, he missed a short putt on the 4th hole leading to bogey, finished the front nine at +1, and