Four European players lead the rankings of the Farmers Insurance Open after the second day, the cut-off day and the truth day, since all competitors have already passed through the two courses of Torrey Pines, North and South, whose degree of difficulty is significantly different. One, the first, is Stephan Jaeger (-12), a German who has never been a member of the European circuit, all be it said, and who at 34 is still looking for his first victory on the PGA Tour. Next, we have Nicolai Hojgaard (-11), the young Dane who seems hell-bent on continuing to climb positions in all the rankings there are and to be; he has not won on the other side of the pond either, but he is a newcomer. The Belgian Thomas Detry (-10) and the French Matthieu Pavon (-10) close this curious poker, ahead of the Americans Tony Finau (-9) and Michael Kim (-9) and another European like Aaron Rai (-8). It is not usual to have four Europeans leading a major tournament on the American circuit, we can bet on that.
The presence up there of Pavon, moreover, is even more striking or interesting. The Frenchman obtained the PGA Tour card last year through the DP World Tour and would currently be qualified to play in Pebble Beach next week the second Signature Event of the season, through the mini ranking that is elaborated with the last three tournaments (Sony Open, American and Express and Farmers) and that grants a place to the first five. Keep an eye on Pavon, because he has signed the third best card of the day, a resplendent 65 on the South course of Torrey Pines, which of course has been the best record on this course, the most complicated of the two, after adding up to eight birdies and a single bogey, only behind two cards of 64 strokes that Jaeger, the leader, and Patrick Rodgers delivered on the North course.
Can one be a newcomer from the DP World Tour, with just one victory on the European circuit, and find a place in the most prestigious tournaments so soon? Pavon, for now, is proving that yes, although there are still 36 long holes to be played and nothing has been decided in this regard. Others like Sami Valimaki (-7), Alexander Bjork (-6) or Ryo Hisatsune (-4) also have room to achieve it with 36 holes ahead, although the young Japanese has run into the South course (card of 75 strokes), where Pavon was levitating, and has lost many positions.
Ah, the cut, the cut-off day, which they want to steal from us in too many tournaments throughout the year. Today, in San Diego, the tension has been chewed again, as it should be, and some illustrious names have been left out. Those of Collin Morikawa, Jason Day, Sungjae Im, Sepp Straka, Eric Cole or Ryan Fox, among others. This time it has touched them, but there is no week or great golf tournament that does not bring surprises and pays a deserved tribute to meritocracy. Long live the cut.
