Swede Ludvig Aberg shot a superb nine-under-par 63 to make it a double shot after the first round of the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in California on Wednesday.
Aberg made eight birdies and an eagle with a solitary bogey to win the first round with the lowest score of his career, taking advantage of perfect conditions on the North Course at Torrey Pines.
“Very happy with the way we came out of the gates today and played some good golf,” the 25-year-old said afterwards.
“Any golf course, when it looks like this, when you have the view, Torrey Pines is a really, really cool place.”
Starting on the back nine, Aberg was in rhythm, quickly making three consecutive birdies followed by a birdie on his fifth hole of the day and an eagle to reach the turn at six under.
Four more birdies down the stretch and a solitary bogey on his 11th hole completed a stellar round.
Aberg has a two-shot lead over Americans Danny Walker and Hayden Springer, who finished the first round in second after shooting 65-under par.
Walker’s round took place on the more difficult South Course at Torrey Pines, with the 29-year-old from Florida making seven birdies in a bogey-free round.
“I was just trying to get to the middle of the green a few times and then I made a few putts and that’s how I got a good score,” Walker said.
“I think I hit every green, which is rare, especially on such a demanding course.”
Four players – Lanto Griffin, Zac Blair, Zach Johnson and South African Aldrich Potgieter – are still down at six under after starting on the North Course.
Another South African, Erik van Rooyen, and Frenchman Antoine Rozner are among the 10 players at five under.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, world number four and the highest-ranked player in California this week, is with 10 other players tied for 18th at four under.
rcw/jgc
