The beast that is Torrey Pines South reared its head Friday in the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open, leaving some golfers feeling more like they’d gone 15 rounds than 18 holes.
Stephan Jaeger maintained his one-stroke lead heading into Saturday’s final round, despite an inconsistent outing that included five birdies and six bogeys for a 1-over 73.
Matthieu Pavon (72) and Nicolai Hojgaard (73) couldn’t break par either on moving day, finding themselves a stroke behind Jaeger.
But it was Belgium’s Thomas Detry who really staggered into the clubhouse after a double bogey on the 18th hole that cost him a share of the lead and left him two shots back entering the final round.
Detry, who had his ups and downs with five birdies and four bogeys heading to 18, wasn’t trying to do anything spectacular. Just survive.
He laid up in front of the water guarding the green with his second shot on the par-5 finishing hole. But the wedge shot that followed did not produce the desired result, the ball flying toward the back of the green, then spinning back past the hole and into the water.
“We decided to be smart and there we go, I got punched in the face,” said Detry, whose 7 on the final hole stuck out like a black eye.
He has overnight to regroup.
“It’s really tough, honestly,” Detry said. “I’ve been working on a lot of things mentally as well and I feel I’m doing everything the right way, and it still seems to happen. … I just have to face adversity and just try to learn from it.”
Five players are three strokes back of the leader. They include Taylor Pendrith and Trace Crowe, whose 69s placed them among lowest rounds of the day.
Only two players — Ryan Brehm and Will Zalatoris with 68s — were better.
Xander Shauffele (72), Tony Finau (74), Ludvig Aberg (69) and Zalatoris are just off the leaderboard, tied for 10th place, four strokes back.
Notably, both Max Homa and Luke List overcame five-stroke deficits in the final round the past two years to win the Farmers.
Jaeger knows holding on for his first PGA Tour victory won’t be easy.
“I just kind of lean on the work I’ve done over the last couple years, couple months,” he said. “It’s great to have some past success, but you really — that doesn’t really get you anything.
“I’m going to feel it tomorrow, I’m going to be nervous.”
