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 behind at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. With a seven-stroke lead and a tournament record of 23-under par, Rose triumphed at Torrey Pines. He held the lead firmly from the start, setting new scoring records after each round.
PGA Tour: Justin Rose Wins with Tournament Record
In the final, a 70-round was enough to secure his comfortable victory. With three birdies on the front nine, the Englishman extended his lead; although he had a bogey at the 12th on the back nine, Rose had enough buffer to remain worry-free. Instead, he focused on beating the tournament record of 22-under par set by Tiger Woods in 1999. \”That was the only thing I concentrated on during the last three holes,\” Rose said afterwards.
\”The fact that I was able to extend my lead every day is something I’m naturally proud of as a player, because it shows I can handle the pressure from start to finish, keep improving, and push forward,\” Rose said at his winner’s press conference. \”Maybe it’s something I hadn’t managed before, so I’m very satisfied with that.\”
Although his golf was nearly flawless, he attributed his success primarily to mental discipline. \”I was very disciplined this week. Of course, I played well, but I felt I managed my game wisely, thought carefully, was patient at the right moments, and made crucial putts to compensate for small mistakes. There was a lot of true mental maturity from a strategic golf perspective.\”
Stephan Jäger Finishes in the Top 5
With Rose untouchable in the lead, the rest battled for second place. Pierceson Coody gained 12 spots with a 65—best round of the day—to claim that spot, sharing it with Si Woo Kim and Roy Hisatsune. Just behind them, Stephan Jäger finished tied 5th at 15-under par. A 68-round sealed his strong result. While Jäger’s previous days alternated between birdie streaks and bogey trouble, the final day showed a bit of both. Three inaccurate shots led to bogeys, but seven birdies helped maintain his position in the top 10. After missing the cut at the American Express, this is a positive sign for the new year and his best finish since the Sony Open in January 2025.
Brooks Koepka closed the tournament with a 70-round tied 56th, completing his first week back on the PGA Tour. The biggest change, he said after the event, is that he doesn’t recognize half the players. \”There have been some changes in the last four years. I know half the guys, the other half I don’t. It’s going to be an exciting year to meet them all, and I’m looking forward to it.\”