Adam Scott in action today – photo Getty Images Donald Miralle – click photo
Despite his lengthy PGA Tour career, Adam Scott is playing the Farmers Insurance Open for just the second occasion, but it is clear he has an affinity with the Torrey Pines venue.
Scott played the venue during the World Junior event at Torrey Pines back in the mid 1990’s and other than that has played the 2008 US Open and this event in 2019 so he is nicely placed to add to his growing familiarity with the La Jolla near San Diego over the next 36 holes at the venue for this year’s US Open.
In his first start in the event in 2019, he finished runner-up to Justin Rose and, today, he finds himself just one off the lead through 36 holes and appearing as if his game is in the short of shape it needs to be to challenge for a 15th PGA Tour title.
Scott today played the more difficult of the two layouts used early in this event, the South Course, and was able to put together a round of 3 under 69 which included five birdies and an eagle to go with four bogeys and he trails only Viktor Hovland as the tournament enters the weekend.
Scott shares second place with Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, Lanto Griffin, Ryan Palmer and Patrick Reed
The highlight of the day for Scott came at his 15th hole when his approach from just under 200 yards finished 18 feet behind the hole and was converted for the eagle to take the lead at that point.
Unfortunately, two bogeys would follow but he would birdie his final hole to take a share of the lead before a weather break impacted those still on the course.
“Things are not all still as normal and I’m probably slightly under-prepared for where I want to be, but I’m working on that,” said Scott referring to where he is at with his game and preparation at present.
“Hopefully I can get to spend enough time practicing and playing and seeing the coach and doing the training and stuff, but it’s a little tricky at the moment to get it all done. But I’m trying not to force it. I feel like things are in a good spot.
“Obviously I’m playing okay. I play fairly solid every week I play, it’s just those small margins I think that have been missing and they take some consistency to accumulate and push you up to that top level.
“I really like where my game is heading, and I have in Hawaii as well. I just feel like getting it in the clubhouse has been the hardest thing. The swing, although there’s been lots of good ones, there’s just a couple loose ones coming in. Almost every round I’ve played this year it’s been like that. I think I’m nearly getting there. I’d like to finish it off nicely on the weekend. If I do that, I think I’ll be in with a shot.”
Of the other Australians and New Zealanders, Marc Leishman recovered from a triple bogey in his opening round to be at 3 under and tied for 29th along with Cameron Davis and Danny Lee, Rhein Gibson is 40th, while Tim Wilkinson, Cameron Percy and Matt Jones are 54th and will play the weekend.
