A tumultuous day filled with big leads, sweaty moments and momentum swing after momentum swing resulted in Stephan Jaeger taking a one-stroke lead at 11 under over Matthieu Pavon and Nicolai Hojgaard into the final round of the 2024 Farmers Insurance Open. The 36-hole leader's round featured just about everything as the German shot out the gates and looked in full control of his game in the early stages.
Jaeger was at ease in possession of his first 36-hole lead as he made a pair of early birdies to fend off a sizzling Thomas Detry. The back-and-forth of the first four holes was only the beginning as Jaeger stood over a 7-foot birdie chance on the par-4 7th with a chance to extend his edge to three. He missed, and from there, 11 holes of chaos among the final group ensued.
Jaeger made bogey on his following hole before doing well to save par on the par-5 9th to close out his outward half. Taking to the most difficult stretch at Torrey Pines, Jaeger made bogeys on Nos. 11-12, but he still owned a one-stroke lead. Despite a flurry of birdies and bogeys from Detry and Hojgaard alongside him, Jaeger maintained this edge up until the Belgian struck a blow on the par-3 16th.
Making his third birdie of the back nine, Detry finally caught up to Jaeger. When his European counterpart slipped up on 17, he went to the 18th tee with the solo lead at 11 under. After splitting the fairway, Detry made the head-scratching decision to lay up. It proved to be an incorrect choice as his wedge shot landed well past the pin, zipping across the green and into the water protecting the front of the surface.
"I hit an amazing drive, I drove it great on 18," said Detry. "I was just in between 3-wood, hybrid. It's been a very long day. I think we played in 5 hours 45 [minutes], I had a little bit of mud on the ball, the lie wasn't perfect, light was starting to be -- it was starting to be dark. There was a couple of different factors that were not in favor. Obviously short is a no-go. So, we decided to be smart and there we go, I got punched in the face."
Detry was unable to save bogey and walked off the green with a double-bogey and a bloody nose. Meanwhile, Jaeger made his fifth birdie of the day to offset a half dozen blemishes and sign for a 1-over 73 matching the scores of Detry and Hojgaard. The three made up the theatrics on Friday, but they are joined by a laundry list of characters in the final round.
Xander Schauffele, Will Zalatoris, Tony Finau and Ludvig Åberg all find themselves at 7 under and in with a chance to win. A total of 25 players are within five strokes of Jaeger — the same deficit both Max Homa and Luke List overcame in 2023 and 2022 en route to their respective titles. If Friday was precursor to anything, it's that anything can — and probably will — happen at Torrey Pines.
The leader
1. Stephan Jaeger (-11)Jaeger walks away from the third round with a confused look on his face wondering how he came out of the day with the lead. After maneuvering through Torrey Pines effectively early, he lost his game for the vast majority of the round, making five bogeys across his final 10 holes. This was chalked up to some inaccuracy off the tee and some poor strokes on the greens, but if Jaeger got it out of his system, then he should return to his reliable self on Saturday.
Other contenders
T2. Matthieu Pavon, Nicolai Hojgaard (-10)
4. Thomas Detry (-9)
T5. Taylor Pendrith, Trace Crowe, Jake Knapp, Taylor Montgomery, Joe Highsmith (-8)
T10. Robby Shelton, Parker Coody, Maverick McNealy, Ludvig Åberg, Will Zalatoris, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Ryan Brehm, Emiliano Grillo (-7)
A jolt of energy ran through the contenders as the final threesome made bogey after bogey in the middle portion of their rounds. The benefactors of their struggles, this group has a real claim on Saturday's grand prize with someone like Åberg licking his chops. The young Swede has been dreadful on the greens at Torrey Pines South with a four-putt bogey on the par-5 13th on Friday among many other short misses. Despite this, the 24-year-old is right in the thick of things at 7 under and with a chance to win his second PGA Tour title.
Torrey Pines toughens up
It may not seem like a drastic uptick in scoring average compared to the last two days, but Torrey Pines South played a stroke more difficult Friday at an average of 73.5. Considering the field has been cut and half and those not playing well were sent home, the golf course is slowly showing its teeth following the showers earlier in the week. Breaks like this from Detry on the par-3 11th did not help the cause either.
Next week looms large
The second signature event of the 2024 season is set for next week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and spots in the field are still open. Essentially everyone on the first page of the leaderboard outside Finau is not yet qualified for next week's event, so second place may not sting as much as usual. At the beginning of the week, the Aon Swing 5 featured Grayson Murray, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Justin Thomas, Kevin Yu and Carl Yuan. That will certainly change come the conclusion of this tournament.
2024 Farmers Insurance Open updated odds, picks
- Stephan Jaeger: 3-1
- Nicolai Hojgaard: 4-1
- Matthieu Pavon: 6-1
- Thomas Detry: 14-1
- Xander Schauffele: 14-1
- Taylor Montgomery: 18-1
- Ludvig Åberg: 20-1
- Tony Finau: 22-1
- Taylor Pendrith: 22-1
- Will Zalatoris: 28-1
There are a lot of unknown quantities at the top of the leaderboard in terms of PGA Tour experience, and this could give way for a come-from-behind winner. Of the last 10 winners, only Patrick Reed converted his 54-hole lead, while players such as Homa, List and Marc Leishman all came back from four strokes or more. With this in mind, Schauffele looks to be in ideal position at 7 under to break his winless drought. He pounded the ball Friday ranking third in strokes gained tee to green and first in strokes gained off the tee. The Cali kid was unable to find his feel with the putter, but if he does, then it will put him over the top and allow him to enter the winner's circle.
As an avid golf enthusiast with a deep understanding of the game, I can provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the 2024 Farmers Insurance Open, specifically the third round and the upcoming final round.
Firstly, let's focus on the leader, Stephan Jaeger, who currently holds a one-stroke lead at 11 under. Jaeger's performance in the third round was a rollercoaster, marked by a mix of successes and challenges. He started strong, making early birdies and appearing in control, but later faced difficulties with bogeys on the back nine. Despite the struggles, he managed to maintain his lead, finishing with a 1-over 73. Jaeger's ability to navigate through challenges and maintain composure showcases his resilience and experience.
The contenders closely trailing Jaeger include Matthieu Pavon and Nicolai Hojgaard, both at 10 under. Thomas Detry, who made a significant impact on the par-3 16th, is trailing at 9 under. The tight competition among these players sets the stage for an exciting final round.
Notable mentions go to Xander Schauffele, Will Zalatoris, Tony Finau, and Ludvig Åberg, all at 7 under and within striking distance. Schauffele, in particular, exhibited impressive performance in strokes gained off the tee and tee to green, positioning him well for a potential comeback in the final round.
The challenging nature of Torrey Pines South became evident in the third round, with an increased average scoring of 73.5. The course showed its teeth, especially during the middle portion of the round when the final threesome struggled with multiple bogeys. Such challenges highlight the importance of skillful play and decision-making.
Looking ahead to the final round, the unpredictability of golf is emphasized. Past winners overcoming significant deficits, much like Max Homa and Luke List in 2023 and 2022, suggest that anything can happen. With 25 players within five strokes of Jaeger, the competition remains wide open, and the final round promises more twists and turns.
Additionally, the mention of the upcoming AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am adds another layer of significance. Players outside of Finau on the leaderboard have an opportunity to secure a spot in the next prestigious event, adding motivation and stakes to their performances.
Finally, the updated odds for the top contenders reflect the uncertainty at the top of the leaderboard. Jaeger, Hojgaard, and Pavon lead the odds, but the presence of lesser-known players, such as Ludvig Åberg, suggests the potential for a come-from-behind victory.
In conclusion, the 2024 Farmers Insurance Open is poised for a thrilling final round, where experience, strategy, and resilience will play crucial roles in determining the champion. The unpredictable nature of golf ensures that fans can expect more drama and excitement as the tournament concludes.
