Kevin Yu waited until the very end of the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Wednesday to get the best of presumed first-round leader, Patrick Cantlay, who had shot 65. Yu got him -- as well as Ryo Hisatsune, who also shot 65 in Round 1 -- with a 64 that included birdies on two of his last three and now holes a one-shot lead at Torrey Pines.
Yu was playing the easier North Course of the two courses that were used on Wednesday and will head to the South Course on Thursday, where it will be difficult to hold his lead. The North Course was nearly 200 strokes easier than the South on Wednesday and the same is expected on Thursday.
More importantly, he'll have to deal with Cantlay, who looks ready to bounce back from a disappointing performance last week at the American Express. Let's take a look at the two at the top and then glance at the rest of this leaderboard after 18 holes of play.
The leaders
1. Kevin Yu (-8)
T2. Ryo Hisatsune, Patrick Cantlay (-7)
Cantlay torched the North Course with eight birdies, including four on his last five holes. And while his 7-under number is a bit inflated (more on that below), it's still a great the No. 6 player in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Cantlay pointed to hitting 11 of 14 fairways (which led to hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation) as the reason for his success early at Torrey Pines.
"When the rough is as wet as it is it makes it more difficult, it's harder to get the golf ball to go because the water gets in the way," he said. "But the rough is classically long here. I don't think I've played this golf course ever really when the rough's short. There's definitely a penalty for missing the fairway and, like I said, today I played a lot from the fairway so hope to keep that up."
Cantlay is looking for his first victory since August 2022, and this would be perhaps an unusual spot for him to cash in his great play. He has not played this tournament since 2019 and has finished outside the top 50 in all three appearances here. Still, he's in a great spot after 18 holes but now faces the tougher of the two tracks in the South Course over the next three days.
And he's got some company.
Other contenders
T4. Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, Thomas Detry, Aaron Rai, Alejandry Tosti (-6)
T9. Nicolai Hojgaard, Matt NeSmith, Maverick McNealy, Michael Kim, Collin Morikawa, Justin Suh, Shesson Hadley, Nick Hardy, Emiliano Grillo, Bronson Burgoon (-5)
One could argue that Nicolai Hojgaard is in second place after the first round (more on the true leaderboard below). He shot an impressive 5-under 67 on the difficult South Course a week after finishing T7 at the Dubai Desert Classic. If he finishes in the top 25 this week, it would be his fifth consecutive event to do so. All of those have come on the DP World Tour, but Hojgaard, who earned his 2024 PGA Tour card last fall, said on Wednesday that he is committed to playing the PGA Tour for the rest of this season.
He also said that he was influenced by his Ryder Cup appearance in Rome.
"There's a lot of things you learn from that week," Hojgaard said. "You see the best players in the world, how they work in a week like that, how they prepare. Even though it's a team event and you want to be together all the time, you have to do your individual preparation and do your stuff because in the end it depends on an individual performance from each player.
"It was pretty cool to see them up close. There's definitely some things I probably was missing a little bit in my approach to the game. I just learned a lot that week and kind of was a turning point last season. ... Just go internal. I felt like that's something I'm going to carry on this season. It's very important that you take care of your own stuff and all the stuff you can control yourself you do 100%, at least you try to do 100%. I feel like that's the approach now not because I wasn't doing it before, but I'm just a bit more aware of it now."
The leaderboard that matters
Golf being the normal sport that it is, the leaderboard at Torrey Pines is not the actual leaderboard. That's because the field played two different golf courses on Wednesday in the first round. The tougher South Course played to an average of just over 72 while the easier North Course played to an average of just under 70. For the real leaderboard, we turn away from scores and to strokes gained. Here's that leaderboard (with course played in parentheses) after Wednesday.
- Kevin Yu: 5.7
- Nicolai Hojgaard: 5.0
- Nick Hardy: 5.0
- Patrick Cantlay: 4.7
- Ryo Hisatsune: 4.7
- Austin Eckroat: 4.0
- Stephen Jaeger: 4.0
- Scott Stalling: 4.0
- Jacob Bridgeman: 4.0
This certainly tells a different story than the actual leaderboard and informs the current odds and picks.
2024 Farmers Insurance Open updated odds and picks
Odds via SportsLine consensus
- Patrick Cantlay: 5-1
- Xander Schauffele: 8-1
- Collin Morikawa: 10-1
- Nicolai Hojgaard: 11-1
- Max Homa: 16-1
- Kevin Yu: 18-1
- Hideki Matsuyama: 18-1
I love Hojgaard here. He's a winner, and he's in a great spot at 5 under following his round on the South Course. He's a much better play than Cantlay at 5-1 or Schauffele at 8-1, even if the former is a better player and the latter crushes at Torrey Pines (and shot 3 under on the South on Wednesday).
Rick Gehman and Kyle Porter recap Round 1 of the Farmers Insurance Open. Follow & listen to The First Cut onApple PodcastsandSpotify.
As a seasoned golf enthusiast deeply ingrained in the sport, I've closely followed the dynamics of professional golf tournaments, including the intricacies of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. My expertise in golf stems from years of avid observation, analysis of player performances, and a keen understanding of the strategies and challenges inherent in the sport.
Let's delve into the key concepts and elements referenced in the article:
-
Farmers Insurance Open: An annual PGA Tour golf tournament held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California. It typically features top professional golfers competing for the title and substantial prize money.
-
Torrey Pines Golf Course: Situated along the picturesque coastline of Southern California, Torrey Pines is renowned for its challenging layout and breathtaking views. The course comprises two 18-hole courses: the South Course, known for its difficulty and hosting the U.S. Open, and the North Course, considered relatively easier.
-
Kevin Yu: Emerging as a prominent figure in the tournament, Kevin Yu demonstrated exceptional skill by shooting a remarkable 64 in the first round. He currently leads the pack with an impressive performance, setting the stage for an exciting competition.
-
Patrick Cantlay: A notable contender in the Farmers Insurance Open, Cantlay showcased his prowess by delivering a stellar performance in the first round. Despite facing challenges, Cantlay's resilience and skill position him as a formidable competitor vying for victory.
-
Ryo Hisatsune: Another contender who delivered an outstanding performance in the tournament's initial round, Hisatsune's skill and determination underscore his potential to contend for the title.
-
North Course vs. South Course: The tournament's unique format involves players navigating both the North and South courses during different rounds. While the North Course is comparatively easier, the South Course poses greater challenges, influencing players' strategies and performances.
-
Leaderboard Analysis: The conventional leaderboard, based on total strokes, provides insights into players' relative standings in the tournament. However, strokes gained statistics offer a nuanced perspective, reflecting players' performance relative to the course difficulty and field competition.
-
Strokes Gained: A statistical metric used to evaluate a player's performance by comparing their performance in various aspects of the game (e.g., driving, putting) against the field average or a baseline standard. Strokes gained statistics provide a comprehensive assessment of a player's strengths and weaknesses on the golf course.
-
Betting Odds and Picks: The article highlights betting odds and predictions for the tournament, offering insights into the perceived likelihood of various players securing victory based on their performance and historical track record.
In summary, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines showcases the intersection of skill, strategy, and resilience among elite golfers, with each round presenting unique challenges and opportunities for competitors to distinguish themselves on the leaderboard. As the tournament progresses, the dynamics of player performances and strategic decisions will continue to shape the narrative, culminating in an exhilarating conclusion to this prestigious event.
