SAN DIEGO — Ludvig Aberg and Lanto Griffin emerged as co-leaders during Thursday’s play at the Farmers Insurance Open held at Torrey Pines after severe winds caused an 86-minute delay, leaving many golfers unable to complete their second rounds.
Aberg, who initially led after the first round, ended up carding a 3-over 75, while Griffin finished with a 72, bringing both players to a total of 6-under 138 on the South Course.
Danny Walker stood at 5-under, while Chris Gotterup posted a 69, tying for the best round of the day and joining Hayden Springer and Sungjae Im at 4-under.
The challenging weather conditions saw formidable gusts exceeding 35 mph ripple across the coastal course, renowned more for its fog than its ferocious winds. The strong gusts were so intense they disrupted play, moving stationary balls and even blowing hats off players’ heads, prompting officials to halt the game.
Griffin, who recently earned his PGA Tour card at Q-school, remarked on the tough circumstances, saying, “Throw the score out the window. On a normal day, a 72 is a solid score on this golf course, but today was just a head-down grind. Walking to the 13th tee, the gusts reached about 35 mph, making certain shots extremely difficult.” He added that the main goal was to focus on saving pars and hoping to add a few birdies.
The delay began shortly after 2 p.m. and continued until 3:31 p.m., further pressing players to complete their rounds in slightly reduced wind conditions.
The North Course, being more exposed to the ocean, posed particular difficulties for players like World No. 4 Hideki Matsuyama, who expressed frustration as his carefully planned putts strayed from their intended paths. Ultimately, he managed a 75 and still made the cut at 1-under.
In comparison to previous rounds, scoring was better on the North Course (averaging 70.2) than the tougher South Course (averaging 72.5). However, due to the winds, the South Course (averaging 75.3) played easier than the North (averaging 75.6) on Thursday.
Eric Cole, who finished his second round with a 71 just before the delay, shared his experience, stating, “It was extremely difficult. The wind picked up on our second or third hole, creating strong conditions for the next six holes. Then it shifted for a few holes before picking up again. It felt uniquely challenging.”
With the adverse weather, no player managed a bogey-free round as dust and sand whipped across the Pacific throughout the day.
In addition to golfing challenges, a brush fire ignited approximately four miles south of Torrey Pines, burning three acres close to the UC San Diego campus. Fortunately, 175 firefighters effectively contained the fire’s spread, according to reports from local officials.
Some golfers opted to withdraw before play resumed. Notably, Max Homa, the 2023 champion of the Farmers Insurance Open, withdrew mid-stoppage while only three holes shy of completion, citing illness during another disappointing round.
Amateur Luke Clanton, a junior from Florida State, had a promising start but hit three bogeys in the harsh wind conditions. He decided to pause play with his tee shot on the 17th in the rough and will complete his second round on Friday.
