Justin Rose put on a scoring clinic at Torrey Pines on a windless golf course that provided the canvas for low scores-none better than the seven shot victory by Rose, breaking the 72-hole tournament record last set by Tiger Woods in 1999.
While most of the country was in a deep freeze, Torrey Pines in San Diego, displayed Chamber of Commerce weather for the entire week. Sunshine and blue Pacific Ocean which were the envy of all as the players strolled the magnificent championship course in short sleeves.
Torrey Pines was a challenge with juicy ruff and head-scratching poana greens, but not for Justin Rose. He became the first wire-to wire winner at Torrey Pines in 71 years when Tommy Bolt won in 1955.
It all added to an astonishing performance by a 45-year-old from England who is playing some of the best golf of his career and still looking for more. He moved to No. 3 in the world – only Vijay Singh was older when ranked that high in September 2008.
His 13 tour titles have been at Muirfield Village, Aronomink, Merion, Congressional, Pebble Beach, Colonial, all courses that have hosted Majors or a Ryder Cup.
“I still believe there’s good stuff in front of me,” Rose said. He may be a good bet to win a Green Jacket in Augusta this year.
Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines after a spell with LIV. He made the cut, was warmly welcomed back by the fans and players. Koepka will play in Phoenix this week at the Waste Management tournament. If he is able to get his putter to behave he could be a factor. Patrick Reed, another LIV player will be coming back to the PGA Tour perhaps as early as this fall.
Meanwhile, back in fridged Orlando, Florida at Lake Nona, Nelly Korda won for the first time in 14 months without having to hit a shot Sunday when the LPGA Tour reduced the season-opening Tournament of Champions to 54 holes because of wind and cold that led officials to deem Lake Nona unplayable for the final round.
Korda won seven times in 2024 and was winless in 2025. She won with an 8- under 64 on Saturday, an amazing round that was roughly nine shots better than the field average in extreme cold and wind gusts that approacked 40 mph.
Korda finished just before the LPGA halted the third round when wind blew Youmin Hwang’s golf ball off the 17th green.
Korda said it was the best three rounds she ever played. She will take six weeks off, saying she will skip the entire Asian swing.
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