Hovland has lead at rainy Farmers
SAN DIEGO – Viktor Hovland birdied his final for a 7-under 65 on Torrey Pines’ tough South Course on a rainy, miserable Friday, giving him a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Famers Insurance Open.
Hovland finished his round after play resumed following a suspension of about an hour due to wind and rain on the blufftop municipal course overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The 23-year-old Norwegian closed with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth to reach 9 under.
Hovland leads a group of six at 8 under, including first-round co-leader Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm, who won this tournament in 2017 and finished second to Marc Fleishman last year.
Reed shot an even-par 72 on the South Course a day after firing an 8-under 64 on the easier North Course. Rahm shot a 5-under 67 on the North Course.
Also at 8 under were Tony Finau, who had a 5-under 67 on the North; Ryan Palmer, who carded a 2-under 70 on the North; Adam Scott, who had a 3-under 69 on the South; and Lanto Griffin, who shot 2-under 70 on the South.
The weather is supposed to clear up for the weekend rounds on the South Course. The course will host the U.S. Open in June for just the second time.
Hovland lives in Stillwater, where he played at Oklahoma State. He said he’s been practicing there recently.
“That’s helped me for this week. It got really cold, obviously raining and hail, so being Norwegian I think that also helps,” he said. “I just played really solid and made some putts.”
He had just one bogey, on the par-4 15th.
Hovland, who won the Puerto Rico Open last year for his first tour win, said he has confidence going into Saturday.
“I think especially playing a tough course like the South Course, you can’t really fake it, especially in these conditions,” he said. “Playing a hard golf course and then playing well, that I think is what gives me the ultimate kind of belief that I played really well today. You just can’t really fake it. But it’s another day tomorrow and we’ve got two more rounds left, so it’s definitely not going to roll over and give anything to you.”
Rahm also had just one bogey. He said it was much more difficult Friday than the opening round, which was played in nice weather.
“Those fairways are narrow enough as it is. When you start adding the side wind, it’s just not fun,” Rahm said.
“I can’t really stress how hard it can get,” he added. “North is easier. South today is brutal, I mean absolutely brutal. Every shot counts out there.”
Rahm shot a 3-under 69 on the South Course on Thursday.
Lefty’s sticking around
San Diegan Phil Mickelson birdied his final two holes to just make the cut at 1 under. He shot par on the South. … Another San Diegan, Xander Schauffele was at 2 under after shooting par on the South. … Rory McIlroy shot 1-under 71 on the North and was a 5 under. … Notables missing the cut were Jordan Spieth, who shot 3-over 75 on the South, and two-time Farmers champion Jason Day, who followed a 4-over 76 on the South with a par 72 on the North.
Kamaiu Johnson to get his shot
Two days after COVID-19 kept Kamaiu Johnson from his dream of playing on the PGA Tour, the Honda Classic stepped forward Thursday to make sure the inspiring Black golfer gets his shot.
Johnson was the top player on the Advocates Pro Golf Association last year, and the Farmers Insurance Open awarded him a sponsor exemption to play alongside some of the best in the world at Torrey Pines.
And then he tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday and had to withdraw.
The Honda Classic, to be held March 18-21 in his home state of Florida, offered Johnson an exemption.
“As I said when I first learned that I would be forced to withdraw, a fork in the road often has an interesting way of leading to new opportunities,” Johnson said. “It was beyond disappointing not to be able to play at the Farmers Insurance Open after all of the support that Farmers has shown me and the APGA Tour. Now, to find out that I will still have a chance to fulfill my dream of playing on the PGA Tour is almost overwhelming.”