SAN DIEGO — Ludvig Åberg impressed everyone with a stunning 9-under 63 on Wednesday at the Farmers Insurance Open, held at his favorite course, Torrey Pines. This strong performance gave him a two-shot lead over Danny Walker and Hayden Springer at the start of the tournament.
This was Åberg’s first time leading a round on the PGA Tour. The 25-year-old from Sweden played exceptionally well, taking advantage of the easier North Course. He hit 16 out of 18 greens in regulation, scoring eight birdies and one eagle.
“I enjoy using a driver a lot, and I felt I did that well today. I’ll try to do the same tomorrow,” Åberg shared. He also mentioned how much he loves playing at Torrey Pines, especially with its gorgeous views.
Danny Walker, in his fourth PGA Tour start, also performed admirably, achieving the best round on the tougher South Course. He managed to finish his round without a single bogey.
In addition to Åberg and Walker, Hayden Springer was another standout player, finishing just ahead of Lanto Griffin, Zac Blair, 48-year-old Zach Johnson, and 20-year-old Aldrich Potgieter—all of whom played on the North Course. Notably, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the highest-ranked player in the field, shot a solid 68 on the South Course.
Åberg, who debuted at Torrey Pines last year and finished ninth, is looking forward to a strong season ahead. He recently came back from knee surgery and started the year on a high note with a fifth-place finish in Maui. Last year, he earned the Rookie of the Year title but didn’t secure a win, even with six top-five finishes, including second places in major tournaments like the Masters and Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Although some top players are missing from this year’s field, Åberg expressed his excitement about being in San Diego, calling it “my favorite place in the world.” He also hopes the Genesis Invitational will be hosted at Torrey Pines in the future, following a venue change due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Walker, who earned his PGA Tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour, played flawlessly in his round after previously missing two cuts this season. Meanwhile, Zach Johnson, a former champion, managed to make a strong start after receiving a sponsor’s exemption. The defending champion, Matthieu Pavon, struggled a bit with a score of 73 on the South Course.
This year’s Farmers Insurance Open features fewer big names than usual. Notably absent are world No. 2 Xander Schauffele and fifth-ranked Collin Morikawa, who withdrew along with Will Zalatoris shortly before the tournament began.
The tournament runs a bit differently this year, starting on a Wednesday and finishing on a Saturday to avoid clashes with the NFL’s conference championship games.
