Farmers Insurance Open: At the halfway point of the Farmers Insurance Open, Sam Ryder retains a three-shot advantage over Jon Rahm, who clawed back into the race at Torrey Pines.
Ryder shot a four-under 68 on the South Course on Friday in windy circumstances to move up to 12 under par and draw away from nearest rival Brendan Steele. Ryder had shot a 64 in the first round on the North Course.
The world No. 283 came close to a hole-in-one at the par-three third and recovered from a bogey at the fourth by gaining a stroke at the following hole. Steele then made three birdies in a five-hole stretch starting at the 10th to increase his chances of winning his first PGA Tour title.
Ryder, who had missed his previous three cuts coming into the week, said, “Everything was sort of clicking pretty good the last couple of days and I’m just going to try and keep doing a lot of the same.” I simply do everything very well.
Tano Goya shot a five-under 67 on the North Course to move into third place, while Steele birdied his final two holes to finish with a two-under 70 at the same venue. First-round leader Brent Grant struggled to a two-over 74, dropping him into a group of six players tied for fourth place and on six under.
Jason Day, a former world number one, and Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion, are all five under heading into the week, while Rahm moved up from 116th place to within the top 15 after matching Goya’s round of the day 67.
In a strong second round, Rahm, who is aiming for his third straight PGA Tour victory, produced an eagle and three birdies in a run of four holes. Jimmy Walker, a former PGA champion, and Callum Tarren of England were also in the group at four under.
Rahm referred to his run from the fifth to the eighth position as “nothing extraordinary. “I was aware that area of the course was probably the most scoreable on any given day. Fortunately, I’ve been hitting it quite well.”
Aaron Rai, who stumbled to a second-round 78, is tied for the lead with Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im at two under. Rickie Fowler and Tony Finau both birdied their last holes to make the cut at even par.
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