Billy Horschel wasn’t sure he’d be able to make a go of it at the Farmers Insurance Open.
The former FedEx Cup champion was suffering from pain and tightness in his neck and trapezius (muscle) area. After a lot of work and effort by one of the Tour’s athletic training staff, Horschel decided to give it a go.
“I told my caddie, ‘Let’s just go out there, no expectations, and just enjoy,’” Horschel said. “And I think we did a really good job of that. My game is in a really good spot.” With no expectations, all Horschel did was put together a perfect nine-birdie day on the North Course at Torrey Pines for an opening 63 and the first round lead. “Thankfully with all the work we’ve done and everything I felt, it never got any tighter,” Horschel said. “It’s actually felt like it’s a little bit looser right now. Hopefully, we got through the tough of it and now we’re on the downhill side and I don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Horschel took advantage of the shorter North Course with its more forgiving rough. It was a great start for Horschel, who is looking for his first stroke play win since 2018.
Mountain-man-beard-wearing Michael Thompson was a shot behind with 64 on the North Course. In fact, the top four on the scoreboard all played the easier North layout.
Stephan Jaeger, a six-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, was in with a seven-under par 65 along with Kevin Tway. Rickie Fowler had his best day of 2022 with a six-under par 66 along with Francesco Molinari and Doug Ghim.
There were also underachievers on the North Course. Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka shot 70 as did Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth. Xander Schauffele shot 68, Tony Finau 67.
Defending champion Patrick Reed was even par (72) on the South Course as was Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama.
Phil Mickelson, who missed the cut last week at the AmEx, played poorly and shot 76 on the South Course.
Ryan Alford a player from the APGA Tour, had a perfect first hole on the South Course. He holed out from the rough at the first hole for an eagle two on the par four but it was rough going the rest of the way for Alford and he shot 77. Kamaiu, another APGA player who, like Alford, received a sponsor’s exemption, shot even par 72 on the North Course.
Brandon Harkins Wins Great Abaco Classic:
Journeyman Brandon Harkins got his first Korn Ferry Tour win on Wednesday on the second hole of a playoff with two-time KFT winner Zecheng Dou.
Both players finished with 18-under par totals and headed back to the par five 18th at the Abaco Club (Bahamas). Both made pars the first trip down the hole but Harkins prevailed on the second time with a par.
Harkins has two second-place finishes but the former Chico State golfer came through this time.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m starting to get a little bit emotional,” Harkins said. “This is for my wife and my two boys at home. My wife means the world to me, and she is the most supportive person I’ve ever met. She just always pushes me to be better, and she’s the best mom to our boys (Jackson and Hunter). This win, it feels great, but you know what, it’s for them, it’s for my family, my mom, my brother, everyone.
“Can’t wait to get home and give them a big hug.”
Collin Morikawa Scores Early, Fades Late in Dubai:
Collin Morikawa looked like he had found the answer to his poor play in Abu Dhabi during Thursday’s first round at the Dubai Desert Classic.
The world’s No. 2 was cruising. He was seven-under par through 14 holes and leading the tournament. But over the last four holes, he looked like the Morikawa of last week.
He was losing drives to the right and finished with bogeys over three of his final four holes (six-through-nine) and had to settle for a four-under par 68.
He was playing with Rory McIlroy who has had a lot of success in Dubai. But Rory was nothing short of mediocre on day one. Rory played even par on the par fives and that’s not a formula for success for the long-driving McIlroy. Four birdies, three bogeys added up to a ho-hum round of 71.
Viktor Hovland tied Morikawa with an opening 68.
Joachim Hansen was one of the early leaders with a seven-under par 65. Justin Harding of South Africa was in the afternoon wave and reached the 18th tee at six-under par when play was suspended due to darkness. He’ll come back early Friday and see if he can birdie the par five finishing hole to tie Hansen.
Dubai Desert Classic Scoreboard:
