– Xander Schauffele is not one to sugarcoat things when they go wrong. He doesn’t look for excuses either. He criticises himself, but without falling into cruelty or victimhood. That’s why, after missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open and thus breaking his sensational streak of 72 consecutive weekends playing on the PGA Tour, the San Diego native didn’t look for another culprit other than himself. “I deserve to miss the cut. If you can’t make birdie on two par 5s from the fairway and make bogey on the short par 4, you’ve earned it,” he said yesterday after signing the card.
In a way, he feels relieved by the end of his record. In fact, on the last hole, the conversation with his caddie was revealing:
– “It’s over now then, isn’t it?” said Xander.
– “Yes, it’s finished,” replied his right-hand man.
He will no longer have to think about that matter and can focus more on what he considers his main mistake this week. “I made some equipment adjustments hastily and got it wrong, they didn’t work. Specifically, it was a combination of driver head and shaft that didn’t suit me. It happens a lot. You change something that works hoping it will be better, it isn’t, and when you go back to the previous setup it doesn’t feel the same because you’ve forced yourself to adapt the swing to the change you made. Now I have to spend the whole weekend looking for the best setup. Time to work. Better to miss the cut here in San Diego, at home, than to do it in Charlotte alone,” he noted, looking for the positive side of things.
– With Schauffele’s active record of 72 consecutive weeks making the cut shattered, the baton is passed to a certain Scottie Scheffler. The World Number One has made 65 cuts in a row. The question is obvious: How long, Scottie?
– Koepka couldn’t hide his happiness at making the cut at the Farmers. First tournament back on the PGA Tour and he will play all four days. “It’s the first time my son has seen me make a cut live. It thrilled me. I’m happy. The driver worked better than on Thursday. That’s the key. I’ve made good putts, but I’ve burned a lot of edges. Somehow I’m getting back to normal. I was still a bit nervous, but less than the first day, more focused on the game. I think I’m hitting it very well, now it’s about loosening up over the weekend,” he explained. By the way, yesterday was Koepka’s 350th round under par on the PGA Tour in 627 attempts.
– Justin Rose is the undisputed leader of the tournament with a record score of -17, four less than the second place. He won here in 2019 and has good performances. He has been the leader on eight occasions at Torrey Pines in his career. What’s the secret? “I’ve always done well on tough courses. That’s at least my impression. The three keys to playing the South Course at Torrey Pines are patience, respect, and staying in the fairway. But above all, respect. You have to go for the flags that are in play, and if they’re not in position, aim for the centre of the green, two metres from the flag and two putts.” The leader’s recipe.
– Harris English, the defending champion, made three birdies in the last five holes to make the cut right on the number.
– Michael Brennan was disqualified for using unauthorised green-reading materials. Basically, for using notes from previous years not made by himself.
– Seamus Power, in second place, is passing the cut at the Farmers for the first time in six appearances. If you’re going to get a thorn out, better do it in style.
– Joel Dahmen made three eagles in the second round. He is the first player since 1983 to make four eagles in a week at Torrey Pines… And he still has two days to improve that record. By the way, Dahmen entered the tournament at the last minute due to Patton Kizzire‘s withdrawal. He is in third place.
