Harris English holds a two-shot lead over three golfers entering Saturday’s third round of the $6.3 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
English became the first golfer since 2011 to complete the first two rounds of the tournament without a bogey, shooting a six-under-par 66 on the North Course Friday.
English was among 54 players unable to complete their first rounds Thursday because of the fog that interrupted play. He completed his first round on the South Course Friday at four-under-par 68, putting him among seven golfers four shots behind first-round leader Nicholas Thompson, tied for 11th.
“Any time you play the South Course and have no bogeys is a pretty good feat,” said English, who is at 10-under-par 134 for the tournament.
English is playing in his fourth consecutive tournament. He tied for third in the Sony Open in Hawaii, tied for 30th in the Humana Challenge and tied for 40th in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
“I worked pretty hard in this off-season getting my game in shape and knowing I wanted to come out the first four events and compete and be in contention every week and see if I can jump up in that top 50 in the world ranking and get back in the World Golf Championships and get in the Masters,” said English, who is 70th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 25-year-old English said he “played decent the last two weeks, nothing special.”
“I didn’t putt very good in Palm Springs and Phoenix,” English said. “But I knew coming into here this golf course really sets up for me. If I can get my driver going and make a couple putts, I can be in the hunt.”
This is the third time English has played in the Farmers Insurance Open. He tied for 73rd in 2013 and tied for 43rd in 2012. English has two victories on the PGA Tour — the FedEx St. Jude Classic and OHL Classic at Mayakoba, both in 2013.
Fellow American Nick Watney, Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela and Martin Laird of Scotland are tied for second at eight-under-par 136, two shots behind English.
Thompson is in fifth at seven-under-par 137, three shots behind English, after shooting a one-over-par 73 on the South Course Friday.
The field was reduced to the low 70 and ties following the conclusion of the round. Among the players failing to make the cut at one-under-par 143 was San Diego native Phil Mickelson, who finished at two-over-par 146, including an even-par 72 on the North Course Friday.
“It’s very frustrating for me right now,” said Mickelson, who also missed the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open after beginning his season by tying for 24th at the Humana Challenge.
“I felt really ready to start the year and these first few weeks have been very poor. I feel like I’m hitting the ball tee to green quite well, really well, but my putting is beyond pathetic and if I can’t get back to the levels of 2013, I’m not sure what I’m going to do because this is very frustrating.”
Mickelson said he was not sure of the reason for his putting problems.
“My grip pressure is light,” said the 44-year-old Mickelson, who went winless on the PGA Tour last season for the first time since 2003. “I feel the stroke is OK. It’s just I’m having a hard time getting the ball in the hole.”
Today is the tournament’s University Day, where spectators and players are both encouraged to wear their alma mater’s colors. Farmers Insurance will contribute $10,000 to the player’s college golf team with the day’s lowest score and $500 to the college funds of all players who wear their school colors.
Both of the final two rounds will be played on the South Course. The winner will receive $1.134 million.
— City News Service
