Rose blooms at Torrey Pines, Korda triumphs at LPGA season opener

Justin Rose won his 13th career US PGA Tour title on Sunday, setting a 72-hole tournament record to capture the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines by seven strokes.

The 45-year-old Englishman became the oldest winner of the event, which dates to 1952, by firing a two-under par 70 in the final round to complete a blowout romp.

“This has been a huge win,” Rose said. “I was aware of the record. I wanted it for personal pride. I was grinding on that. I was aware I had a big lead but I also wanted that for myself.

“I had my own mini-goals coming down the stretch which really kept me focused.”

Rose dedicated the victory to his caddie, Mark “Fooch” Fulcher, who missed Rose’s 2019 win at the event.

“In 2019 he was in a hospital bed when (Gareth Lord) was strolling up the 18th here with me,” Rose said.

“That was one of the best weeks I’ve ever played I thought and I think this week was maybe even more of a clinic from tee to green.”

Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, birdied the par-five sixth and closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies, taking his lone bogey at the 12th and parring in from there.

American Pierceson Coody, South Korean Kim Si-woo and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune shared third on 272.

Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and American Jake Knapp shared fifth on 273.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka shared 56th in his first PGA event since returning from a three-year stay in Saudi-backed LIV Golf, shooting 70 on Sunday.

“It wasn’t great today. I kind of overdid it,” Koepka said. “A few more hours of practice, it will be nice. Next week greens are pretty good so get out there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and grind it out.”

Meanwhile, Nelly Korda captured her 16th career LPGA title on Sunday at the season-opening Tournament of Champions after the event was shortened to 54 holes by sub-freezing temperatures.

Korda completed an eight-under par 64 in the third round on Saturday at Lake Nona Country Club but six leaders were left on the course when play was halted on the Orlando, Florida, layout.

They finished Sunday afternoon but none could catch Korda, the 27-year-old American winning for the first time since November 2024 in a seven-win season that qualified her for the tournament.

“I really, over the off-season, was motivated to get back in the winner’s circle,” Korda said.

Tokyo Olympic champion Korda, a two-time major winner, called her Saturday 64 in blustery and cold conditions among her greatest career rounds.

“I would probably say a top-three round of my career,” Korda said. “Conditions were brutal and they just got worse and worse throughout the day. Korda added that holes “17 and 18 were brutal. I think they were probably the hardest holes I’ve ever played in professional golf.”

Agence France-Presse