The golfer from Taiwan Kevin Yu (-8) is the first leader of the Farmers Insurance Open after delivering a card of 64 strokes on the North course of Torrey Pines. Powerful and forceful record, although the most impressive has been run by Nicolai Hojgaard (-5).
The Dane, Ryder Cup player who partnered with Jon Rahm in Rome, has picked up the baton from his partner in San Diego. He is three strokes off the lead, true, but he has delivered (along with Nick Hardy) the best card of the South course, by far the most difficult of the two and where the final two rounds are played.
Really until tomorrow we are not going to be able to locate with more certainty how the operations are in the Farmers, when all the players have passed through the two fields, but we can get an idea that the best today in the South must be underlined in red. Take note: two of the first 18 classified played this Wednesday the South. And six of the first 33. A notable difference.
Nicolai signed six birdies and a solitary bogey, especially taking advantage of the first nine holes of the course, the second of his account, with a partial of five less. A sensational round that places him ninth and that was mainly forged in a prodigious game from the tee, a crucial issue on this course where hunting the streets is a priority.
As for the head, Yu is the first leader with a one-stroke lead over a chasing duo formed by Patrick Cantlay (-7) and Ryo Hisatsune (-7). The Japanese from the European Circuit continues to demonstrate one more week that he has entered the PGA Tour without any kind of complexes. Remember that he is in the fight to get into Pebble Beach to play the first signature tournament of the season.
Two strokes from the head have been placed important names like Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, Thomas Detry or Aaron Rai. A new demonstration that Europe is in fashion on the American circuit. They all played the North course, clearly the most complicated of the two. Similarly, they are around the head Colin Morikawa (-5), Emiliano Grillo (-5), Michael Kim (-5), who also fights to enter Pebble Beach, or Ludvig Aberg (-4).
Europe, and more specifically the European Circuit, has made a show of strength in this first round. Not in vain, eight of the first 33 coming from the Old Continent, including the young Belgian Adrien Dumont de Chassart (-4) or Vincent Norrman (-4).
It has not been a bad start for Max Homa (-2). Although it seems very delayed in the 48th position, it must be remembered that today he has played on the South course, not so bad considering that the difference between the two fields is more than two strokes.
By the way, Adrian Meronk did not come out to play the first round. The official explanation from his team is that he has stayed in bed a victim of a flu that caught him on the flight from Dubai to San Diego. Of course, speculations quickly broke out that his absence is motivated by a possible signing to LIV Golf. It is not officially confirmed, but it should not be ruled out.
