Justin Rose delivered a masterclass performance at Torrey Pines, carding a stunning 10-under-par 62 on the North Course to seize the early lead at the Farmers Insurance Open. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka's much-anticipated return to the PGA Tour proved to be a low-key affair as he laboured to an opening round of 73.
Rose's Flawless Round Sets the Pace
The 45-year-old Englishman, a Ryder Cup stalwart, produced a remarkable display of precision golf, recording ten unanswered birdies during his first round. This exceptional performance gave him a one-shot advantage over American Justin Lower, who finds himself in second place despite the imminent arrival of twins with his wife currently 34 weeks pregnant.
"It's a funny one, I feel like I managed my game really, really well today," Rose revealed in his post-round interview on the PGA Tour website. "I felt like I read the greens phenomenally, putted as you could see really, really well."
Technical Excellence and Course Management
Rose emphasised that while his scorecard suggested complete dominance, the round required careful navigation. "I wouldn't say it felt in complete cruise control," he admitted. "There was nothing kind of off, but some days you shoot 10 under par and every shot is as you see it, as you intend it, and I probably only had three or four today that I felt like were exactly as I was drawing up."
The veteran golfer highlighted the deceptive challenge of the North Course layout: "It was a good round of golf, the North Course is a course that you feel like you should be able to get but it's actually grown a few teeth over the years. You've got to play well, you've got to drive the ball in play which I did a reasonable job of."
Koepka's Subdued Comeback
In stark contrast to Rose's fireworks, Brooks Koepka's return to PGA Tour competition proved challenging. The five-time major champion, who secured an early release from his LIV Golf contract at the end of the 2025 season, began his round on the more demanding South Course.
Koepka's round unfolded as follows:
- Started with three consecutive pars
- Dropped a shot on the fourth hole
- Failed to convert a birdie opportunity on the ninth
- Made the turn at one over par
- Overshot the green on the par-five 13th, resulting in another bogey
- Narrowly missed a birdie chance on the par-three 16th
- Finished with a one-over-par 73
Renewed Passion for the Game
Despite his modest score, Koepka expressed genuine enthusiasm about his return to competitive golf. "I've fallen back in love with the game," he told reporters after his round. "Watching my son play a little bit and wanting to be able to see him watch me play well and realise how much this game has given me and how fun it is."
The American golfer, who originally joined LIV Golf in 2022, received warm welcomes throughout his round. "It was very cool to hear 'welcome back'... it was pretty much every hole," he noted, acknowledging the supportive reception from spectators.
Other Notable Performances
Ireland's Seamus Power emerged as the standout performer on the challenging South Course, firing an impressive seven-under 65 to claim a share of fifth place. His round represented the lowest score recorded on the more difficult of Torrey Pines' two championship layouts.
The PGA Tour had implemented a specially designed Returning Members Programme to facilitate Koepka's reintegration following his departure from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. This administrative accommodation allowed the former world number one to resume competing on golf's traditional circuit.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will remain on whether Rose can maintain his scintillating form and if Koepka can rediscover the championship-winning golf that made him one of the sport's most formidable competitors before his LIV Golf departure.
