Stephan Jäger sits in the Top 5 after an impressive 65 at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka struggles in his comeback round.
Stephan Jäger delivered an excellent start on Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. With a round of 65, he is tied for 5th place and close to the lead. The other German players had a tougher day. Thomas Rosenmüller posted a 2-under par round to tie for 55th, ahead of Jeremy Paul, who is even par and tied for 87th, and Matti Schmid, who finished 1-over and tied for 101st heading into the second round. Also tied with Matti Schmid is LIV Golf returnee Brooks Koepka, who faced difficulties in his first tournament back on the American tour. Leading after the first day is Justin Rose at 10-under par.
Strong PGA Tour Start for Stephan Jäger
Stephan Jäger had his best start in some time at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. On the North Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, he played an almost flawless round, with the only exception being his start. On the first hole, his second shot landed in a greenside bunker and he missed the up and down, starting his round with a bogey. However, Jäger was not shaken. On the 3rd hole, he reset by hitting a strong tee shot on the 150-meter par 3 close to the hole for a birdie. A particularly strong stretch came between holes 7 to 9, where he scored three consecutive birdies, moving to 3-under par at the turn. Notably, his birdie at the 8th hole was a highlight, where after hitting into a bunker, he produced an excellent sand shot that rolled right into the hole. He carried this momentum into the back nine, starting with two birdies and finishing with two more on holes 16 and 17. Jäger completed his round at 7-under par, entering the rest of the week in 5th place.
Thomas Rosenmüller had a quieter round. Like Jäger, he started with a bogey, but a birdie on the 9th hole brought him to even par after the front nine. Further birdies on holes 11 and 17 led to a round of 70 and a position at 55th place.
Jeremy Paul started on the back nine, but his front nine proved costly. After three birdies and a bogey, three consecutive bogeys on holes 2, 4, and 6 caused him to fall back. A birdie on hole 7 brought him to even par and tied for 87th.