Stephan Jaeger emerged as the leader in the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on Friday. Jaeger's birdie putt on the 18th hole gave him a one-shot lead, while Thomas Detry's unfortunate double bogey cost him the top spot.
It was a challenging day of high scores on the picturesque Torrey Pines course, located on the blufftop overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Detry experienced a major setback, going from a one-shot lead on the 18th tee to falling two shots behind the pace.
Jaeger, a German residing in Tennessee, carded a 1-over 73 for a total of 11-under 205 after 54 holes. Matthieu Pavon of France and Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark were close behind at 10-under, with Detry from Belgium sitting at 9-under after his third-round 73.
As the competition heads into its final round, the possibility of a first-time PGA Tour winner looms. Jaeger, along with the eight players within three shots of him, are all seeking their first PGA Tour victory. The tournament will conclude on Saturday to avoid clashing with the NFL's conference title games.
Detry, Jaeger, and Hojgaard played together in the final group. Detry stood at 11-under as he approached the 18th hole, captivated by a breathtaking sunset. However, his third shot, which landed past the hole and spun back into the pond, ended up being a costly double bogey. Detry couldn't hide his disappointment as he covered his face with his hand.
Reflecting on the moment, Detry said, 'There was a couple of different factors that were not in my favor... Obviously short is a no-go. So we decided to be smart and there we go, I got punched in the face.' After taking a penalty, he managed to salvage a bogey.
The water hazard on the 18th hole, known as Devlin's Billabong, has a history of tripping up players. Australian golfer Bruce Devlin famously took seven shots to get his ball out of the water during the 1975 Andy Williams San Diego Open, eventually carding a 10 on the hole.
Several factors contributed to the high scores seen throughout the day. Tough pin placements and thick, soaked rough from Monday's storm added to the challenge. Detry noted that the slope of the greens, combined with back pin placements, made it difficult to control spin and get the ball close to the hole. Additionally, the saturated rough and soft greens made putting a daunting task.
Heading into the final round, five players were tied at 8-under, while nine others were at 7-under, including hometown favorite Xander Schauffele, ranked 5th in the world, and Tony Finau.
With the tournament reaching its conclusion, all eyes will be on Stephan Jaeger and the chasing pack as they battle for their maiden PGA Tour victories. The Torrey Pines South course has tested their skills and resilience, providing an exciting spectacle for golf lovers around the world.
