English Moves to Front of Farmers Insurance Open


Harris English carded a 6-under 66 on the North course at Torrey Pines to reach 10-under 134 and assume the halfway lead in the Farmers Insurance Open. The $6.3 million PGA Tour event began Thursday at the 36-hole municipal facility near San Diego.

The first two days of the tournament were played on the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, with South used exclusively over the weekend.

English, a 25-year-old from Georgia with two Tour victories - both in 2013, posted six birdies on North for a two-stroke lead over three others who also played North on Friday. The group includes 2009 champion Nick Watney (65), Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas (69) and Scotland's Martin Laird (68).

"I take a lot of positives from today," said English, who hasn't yet recorded a bogey. "I hit the ball well, made some really good putts and hit some good wedge shots.

"I was very excited about that (Thursday)," Harris added. "Especially coming out this morning and having to finish some holes (from the first round) kind of in the cold and it's good to make some of those six-footers coming out for par.

"That's what you got to do on the South course and I kept that momentum going to the North course today, which is a little shorter, a little bit easier."

First-round leader Nicolas Thompson followed up his opening 64 at North with a 73 at the more difficult South and enters the weekend in fifth place at 137. The older brother of LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson had two bogeys and a birdie Friday.

Sharing sixth at 138 are Americans Chad Campbell (71 South), Spencer Levin (70 North), Michael Thompson (73 South), Jimmy Walker (66 North), Daniel Berger (68 South), Lucas Glover (68 North) and Andres Gonzales (69 South), Australians Marc Leishman (66 North) and Jason Day (65 North), and England's Ian Poulter (71 South).

The weekend cut was set at 1-under 143. Among those heading home are former major champions Justin Rose, three-time Farmers Insurance Open winner Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman, Mike Weir, Justin Leonard and Davis Love III.

Mickelson had difficulties on the greens both days, with five three-putts in his 36 holes. "I felt really ready to start the year and these first few weeks have been very poor," ," lamented the San Diego native and a crowd favorite this week.

"I feel like I'm hitting the ball tee to green quite well, really well, but my putting is beyond pathetic and if I can't get back to the levels of 2013, I'm not sure what I'm going to do, because this is very frustrating."

Also not advancing is Dustin Johnson. Playing in his first tournament since last July, the eight-time Tour winner opened with a 74 at South and shot 70 at North on Friday. Reigning FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel finished at 145 and is out for the last two rounds.

Also gone is Jordan Spieth, who followed up his opening 72 at North with a 75 on South.

Defending champion Scott Stallings is one stroke under the cut line.

The tournament lost one of its marquee players, Tiger Woods, on Thursday when he withdrew after 11 holes due to a re-injury of his surgically repaired back. Woods has won eight times - including the most recent of his 14 majors, the 2008 U.S. Open - at Torrey Pines.

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