Rose leads as Koepka makes PGA Tour return

Farmers Insurance Open, USPGA Tour – first-round leaderboard

-10 J. Rose (Eng), – 9 J. Lower (US), – 8 H. Matsuyama (Jpn), M. Greyserman (US), -7 S. Power (Ie), M. McNealy (US), S. Jaeger (De), – 6 M. Rozo (Co) K. Ventura (No), M. Hubbard (Us)

Justin Rose shot a 10-under-par 62 to lead the Farmers Insurance Open as Brooks Koepka made his return to the PGA Tour with a 73.

The 45-year-old carded 10 birdies to claim a one-shot lead over American Justin Lower at Torrey Pines, with both players playing on the North Course.

Rose, who missed the cut at last week’s American Express tournament, said: “I feel like I managed my game really, really well today. I felt like I read the greens phenomenally, putted – as you could see – really, really well.”

World number 173 Lower lost his full PGA card last year and only made this week’s tournament because of a withdrawal.

The 36-year-old, who scored two eagles in his round, said afterwards that his “mind’s not really here” because his wife is 34 weeks pregnant with twins.

Five-time major winner Koepka, playing on the South Course, did not make a birdie until his final but was buoyed by the reception he got from the fans.

“The fans were awesome today,” the American said.

“It was very cool to hear ‘welcome back.’ It was pretty much every hole, which is great. I loved to hear it, and I’m excited for the next few days.”

Koepka’s return comes after leaving the Saudi LIV Golf series after he agreed a release from his contract at the end of 2025.

The PGA Tour quickly introduced a Returning Members Programme to accommodate the former world number one back into the fold.