Crazy Opening Round at Farmers Insurance Open; Woods Withdraws


After dense fog enveloped and postponed play twice at Torrey Pines, the opening round of the Farmers Insurance Open finally got underway Thursday. The two delays - which totaled two and a half hours - led to a sluggish start in the $6.3 million PGA Tour event near San Diego.

And the fog delays ultimately cost the tournament one of its marquee stars.

That player, Tiger Woods, limped off the course after finishing just 11 holes. The 14-time major winner, who also has won eight times at Torrey Pines - including his most recent major, the 2008 U.S. Open - apparently re-injured his surgically repaired back.

The first two days of the tournament are played on the North and South courses of the municipal facility, with South, site of the 2008 U.S. Open, used on the weekend.

At the time he withdrew from the tournament, Woods was 2-over par following two birdies, two bogeys and a double on the par-4 second hole (his 11th) on the North course.

Before he got into his car and left the course, Woods told reporters he was warmed up and ready to go for his 8:00 a.m. tee time, but the first fog delay caused his back to tighten up.

"I was ready to go," the 39-year-old said. "I had a good warm-up session the first time around. Then we stood out here and I got cold, and everything started deactivating again. And it's frustrating that I just can't stay activated. That's just kind of the way it is."

Added Woods cryptically, "My glutes are shutting off. And then they don't activate, and then hence it goes into my lower back. So, I tried to activate my glutes as best I could, in between, but they never stayed activated."

The WD Thursday was the fifth time Woods has had a mid-tournament departure since 2011, and the third time he's pulled out in his last eight starts.

At last week's Phoenix Open, Woods didn't experience any physical issues but his rustiness was on full display as he carded rounds of 2-over 73 and 11-over 82 at TPC Scottsdale.

At day's end, Nicolas Thompson stood atop the leaderboard after an 8-under 64 at North. Thompson got off to a hot start with an eagle on the par-5 first hole before tacking on seven birdies and a bogey.

Brooks Koepka, who won for the first time on the PGA Tour at last week's Phoenix Open, was two back following a 66 on North. Jhonattan Vegas carded a 5-under 67 at South; the Venezuelan's score was matched by Sweden's Freddie Jacobson at North.

Defending champion Scott Stallings was one of the players who will return to finish his first round Friday morning. The 29-year-old from Massachusetts was 1-under at North.

Three-time winner Phil Mickelson played South and he, too, will return in the morning.

Making his first start since last July, eight-time Tour winner Dustin Johnson played South and was 2-over when this story was posted.

Woods's playing partners, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horshel, shot 69 and 72, respectively.

For updated scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/farmers-insurance-open/leaderboard.html.