A triple bogey on the primary gap is a nightmare begin to a spherical that novice golfers know all too effectively, however it’s uncommon to see such a blowout on the opening gap of a PGA Tour occasion.
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Max Homa was the wrongdoer as he went bunker to bunker earlier than leaving the subsequent shot within the bunker to begin the Farmers Insurance coverage Open at Torrey Pines with a seven on the cardboard.
Homa’s final PGA Tour victory got here at this occasion in 2023 and that efficiency will need to have felt one million miles away as he dumped his method into the left greenside, after which blasted his third shot into the sand entice on the opposite facet of the inexperienced.
That’s the place issues went from unhealthy to worse as Homa subsequent his left shot within the bunker earlier than ultimately making it out together with his fifth shot.
He then made a regulation two-putt.
The American did make himself extra relatable to followers watching on, nonetheless, and his downward spiral continued as he fell to six-over par after simply 5 holes courtesy of a bogey and double bogey.
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However such is golf that Homa then produced one of many highlights of the day as he chipped-in for eagle on the par 5 sixth gap.
He additionally pulled off a surprising chip from the sting of the pond beside the 18th inexperienced to save lots of par and the par 5, however the former world quantity 5 entered the clubhouse at five-over par on the finish of the primary spherical.
Homa’s early meltdown was certainly one of a number of fascinating issues to begin the match, which received underway on Wednesday US time to arrange a Saturday end to keep away from a conflict with the NFL’s Convention Championship video games on Sunday.
There have been mass withdrawals within the lead-up to the occasion most well-known for Tiger Woods’ seven victories and a surprising 36-hole format that straddles the San Diego shoreline.
Eleven gamers withdrew within the days main in, together with Collin Morikawa and Will Zalatoris, whereas three extra gamers have pulled out for the reason that opening spherical started as rumours flow into of flu spreading all through the locker room.
Zalatoris withdrew on Wednesday morning, just for his substitute Ryan Moore to then withdraw himself.
Gary Woodland additionally pulled the plug and an official was reported as saying it was as a result of the 2019 US Open champion had the flu.
The withdrawals are massive blow for a match that’s lacking the highest three gamers on the earth with Scottie Scheffler nonetheless recovering for hand surgical procedure after slicing it open on Christmas Day, Xander Schauffele coping with a rib subject and Rory McIlroy beginning his yr on the DP World Tour.
In the meantime, on the course Jason Day’s style is as soon as once more turning heads.
Taking part in in the identical group as Homa, the Australian had an underwhelming day, failing to make a birdie in a two-over par spherical of 74.
However since signing with attire model Motive final yr, Day has adopted some fascinating appears which have pushed the boundaries of what it deemed accepted golf apparel, and this trip he has hit the course carrying a “full sweat go well with”.
On the high of leaderboard is Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg with a nine-under par opening effort.
The European Ryder Cup star made eight birdies and an eagle on the North Course to open up a two shot lead from People Danny Walker and Hayden Springer earlier than transferring to the extra iconic South Course.
“I like massive boy golf programs. It’s my favorite kind of golf to play,” Aberg stated.
“You’ve received to hit the photographs, execute the photographs, hit the fairways, hit the greens. I like my probabilities when it appears like that, so wanting ahead to 3 extra days of it.”
Veteran Aaron Baddeley is the one different Australian within the area and he began strongly with an excellent, bogey free, five-under par spherical of 67.
The 43-year-old is tied for eighth and is well-placed to register his finest PGA Tour consequence since he completed tied seventeenth on the Valspar Championship in March.
There was additionally a little bit little bit of an Australian flavour with Aldrich Potgieter capturing his lowest spherical on the PGA Tour with a six-under 66 as he tries to make a minimize for the primary time.
The South African spent a good chunk of his childhood in Perth, however represents the nation of his beginning and his household moved again there as a 17-year-old.
Potgieter is a star on the rise having completed tied eighth on the Australian PGA Championship in November earlier than coming runner-up on the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Problem in South Africa final month.