If anyone was thinking about writing 45-year-old Justin Rose out in 2026, think again.
The Englishman is leading the field at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines after an electric first round on the North Course. He had 10 birdies and no bogeys during a near-perfect round of golf.
Rose had a resurgence in 2025, taking Rory McIlroy to a playoff at The Masters and beating JJ Spaun in a playoff to claim the St. Jude Championship.
The 2013 US Open winner has been at it for decades, and he did something at Torrey Pines that he hasn’t achieved in nearly 20 years of action.
Justin Rose shoots lowest opening round on PGA Tour in nearly 20 years
Rose is off to a flying start at Torrey Pines. In fact, it’s his best start to a PGA Tour event in nearly 20 years.
His 62 to start the Farmers Insurance Open is his lowest opening round on the PGA Tour since he shot a 60 in round one of the Walt Disney World Classic in October 2006.
He went five-under on the front and back nine in a remarkable display of consistency, but it could have been even better! Rose missed a short putt on the final hole to miss an opportunity for 61.
He’s still one shot ahead of the chasing Justin Lower at 10-under par, having played the much easier North Course on day one. He’ll now be met with a sterner challenge for the next three days of the event as Rose takes on the South Course.
Justin Rose hopes to replicate 2019 victory
Rose has experience of winning this tournament before, as he was crowned champion in 2019. After his opening round, he explained how he’s leaning on that victory this year.
He said,” It feels like a similar weather week to when I won, you know, and I feel like it was the kind of week that you had to kind of keep going low and keep playing well.
“I think I got it to 21 under par at some point during the tournament, so you know this tournament can also be a tournament where you feel like 9, 10, 11 under par’s a really good week.
“So it will be interesting to see how the course plays, if the greens get really firm on the South over the weekend makes it always tough. So it’s going to be a balance of being able to play some great golf because of the conditions, but also respecting a major championship-style track.
“So I’m excited for three rounds on the North, excuse me, on the South and just try to build some momentum with it all.”
This is a major championship venue at Torrey Pines, and one of the toughest courses on the PGA Tour schedule. It’s important that Rose doesn’t get too ahead of himself on a South Course, which has given every player trouble so far.
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