SAN DIEGO, CA — Justin Rose turned Torrey Pines into a familiar playground again Saturday, firing a steady 4-under 68 on the South Course to seize a commanding six-shot lead after three rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Rose, the 2019 champion, stood at 21-under-par 195 after rounds of 62 on the North Course, 65 on the South and another 68 on the South, posting the lowest 54-hole score at the event since records began in 1983. His margin is the largest 54-hole lead at the Farmers Open since Tiger Woods led by eight in 2008, and the biggest on the PGA TOUR since Scottie Scheffler’s eight-shot cushion at the 2025 THE CJ Cup at Byron Nelson.
“Yeah, today I played really well,” Rose said. “I thought that was the round of the week from tee to green anyway.”
Joel Dahmen was second at 15 under after a 3-under 68 on the North Course, but never seriously threatened as Rose repeatedly answered any hint of pressure. Ryo Hisatsune and Si Woo Kim were tied for third at 13 under, while Max McGreevy sat fifth at 12 under.
Rose built his third-round momentum with precise iron play and controlled aggression, setting up a string of birdie chances while avoiding mistakes on a course that can quickly punish loose shots. Even on a day when birdie putts outside 10 feet were scarce, he kept moving forward and maintained his cushion through the demanding closing stretch.
The 45-year-old Englishman is seeking his 13th PGA TOUR victory in his 447th career start and his first win since the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship. A victory Sunday would make him the event’s 10th multiple winner and the first since Jason Day in 2018, while extending his record for most TOUR wins by an English player.
Despite the sizable lead, Rose dismissed any notion of easing off heading into the final round.
“There’s never going to be any complacency,” he said. “You’ve got to do everything right tomorrow.”
Dahmen, who played alongside Rose, acknowledged the difficulty of chasing on the South Course, where low rounds are hard-earned and leads can evaporate only with near-perfect golf.
Rose has now led or co-led the Farmers Insurance Open after a round eight times since 2016, the most of any player, and is 6-for-17 when holding a 54-hole lead or co-lead on TOUR. With calm weather forecast again Sunday, the task ahead is simple but exacting: manage the volatility of Torrey Pines and finish what has already been a record-setting week.
