Rose opened with a 62 on the North course of Torrey Pines and never gave up all week. She played even better on the South course, where two U.S. Opens have been held. He ultimately broke the 72-hole tournament record with a 23-under 265, one better than Tiger Woods in 1999. George Burns also shot 266 in 1987.
“Sorry, T-dub, if you’re looking,” Rose said.
That was his only real challenge, smaller targets to keep him pushing – he wanted to increase his lead every day and he was aware of the tournament record. He got both.
Tommy Bolt is the only other player to lead from start to finish without a draw at Torrey Pines in 1955.
The 45-year-old from England said he wouldn’t be complacent, and that was clear when Rose went out in 33, with a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth, turning the back nine – basically the entire day – into what seemed like a leisurely stroll on the public course along the Pacific Ocean.
The tournament had one of the best weeks of weather, even by San Diego standards. The only thing missing was drama, which suited Rose just fine.
This was little more than a battle for second place and it was a draw. Si Woo Kim (69), Ryo Hisatsune (69) and Pierceson Coody (66) shared second place, a consolation prize worth $726,400. Coody is also likely to compete in a pair of $20 million signature events to end the West Coast Swing.
Brooks Koepka ended his return to the PGA Tour after walking across LIV Golf’s ninth green to familiar cheers as he tapped a birdie putt for a 70. There were about 300 people around the green, most of whom shouted, “Welcome back, Brooks.”
He headed to Phoenix later Sunday for golf’s loudest event. “I like the chaos,” Koepka said.
Rose, who also won at Torrey Pines in 2019, now has 13 career titles on the PGA Tour. He rises to third in the world, his highest ranking in almost seven years. Despite everything he has achieved, from a US Open to an Olympic gold medal and seven Ryder Cup appearances, he has not stopped working to remain among golf’s elite.
“I still believe there are good things ahead of me,” Rose said.
He thought his performance at Torrey Pines in 2019 was one of his best, and this was better. It might also have made more sense. His longtime caddie, Mark Fulcher, was hospitalized while recovering from heart surgery in 2019.
“Now he has one for himself,” Rose said.
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