Justin Rose six clear at Farmers Insurance Open as veteran eyes historic 13th PGA Tour win

Justin Rose has been around long enough to know that no golf tournament is ever truly finished on a Saturday evening. And yet, as the sun dipped behind the cliffs at Torrey Pines on Saturday, the Englishman looked every inch a player firmly in control of his destiny. Six shots clear, 21 under par, and playing with a calm authority that has defined his career, Rose has placed himself on the brink of a 13th PGA Tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open.

At 45 years old, Rose is not just leading the tournament – he is commanding it. The numbers tell one story, but the manner of his play tells another: patient, precise, and utterly unflustered on one of the most demanding courses on the PGA Tour schedule.

Justin Rose dominates Farmers Insurance Open with commanding third round

Rose followed up superb opening rounds of 62 and 65 with a polished four-under-par 68 on Torrey Pines’ fearsome South Course, stretching his lead from four shots to six heading into the final round. Seven birdies against three bogeys may not sound spectacular by modern scoring standards, but on this layout, in these conditions, it was another statement of intent.

Starting the day at 17 under, Rose quickly settled into a rhythm that has become familiar this week. Fairways were found, irons were dialled in, and the putter – so often the difference between contending and cruising – once again behaved itself. For long stretches, it felt less like a leaderboard battle and more like a masterclass.

His total of 21 under par puts him well clear of American Joel Dahmen, who sits second on 15 under after a solid but unspectacular 68. South Korea’s Sungjae Im? Not this time. Instead, it’s Sung-Woo Kim and Ryo Hisatsune sharing third at 13 under, already staring up at a daunting gap.

Rose has now led this tournament from the very first round, and his six-shot advantage marks the biggest 54-hole lead at the Farmers Insurance Open since Tiger Woods held an eight-shot cushion back in 2008. That is rarefied company, and not a comparison made lightly at Torrey Pines.

Chasing history at Torrey Pines

The history books loom large here. The lowest winning score in the tournament’s long history is 22 under par, achieved by Woods in 1999 and George Burns in 1987. Rose, sitting at 21 under with one round to play, is perfectly placed not just to win, but to threaten that benchmark.

Still, he knows better than most that golf has a habit of humbling even the most assured leaders. Briefly, on Saturday, there was a reminder of that truth. Bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 16th holes trimmed what had been an eight-shot advantage, injecting at least a flicker of intrigue into the closing stretch.

Yet even then, Rose never looked rattled. There was no rushing, no visible frustration, just a quiet recalibration and a steady finish that ensured the lead remained emphatic.

“It’s another great round in good weather on an awesome golf course,” Rose said afterwards. “There’s never going to be any complacency. I think there’s always enough respect for the game of golf in the back of your mind that you’ve got to do everything right tomorrow.”

It is that respect – for the course, for the game, for the moment – that has underpinned Rose’s longevity at the very top level.

Rivals resigned as Rose sets the pace

For those chasing, the mood is already shifting from optimism to realism. Dahmen, the nearest challenger, was admirably honest about the scale of the task ahead.

“My only hope is if he doesn’t set his alarm or he somehow starts hitting it in the rough on the back nine maybe,” Dahmen joked. “The way he’s playing and what he’s doing, I’d be pleased with second place.”

It was said with a smile, but it reflected a growing sense that this tournament is Rose’s to lose. Dahmen’s five birdies and one bogey represented a strong round in isolation. It just wasn’t enough against a leader operating on a different level.

Behind them, McGreevy, McNealy, Seamus Power and Stephan Jaeger are all clustered further back, effectively playing for pride, ranking points, and a strong finish rather than the trophy itself.

A familiar name, a fresh chapter

For Rose, this week feels like a continuation of a renaissance that has gathered pace over the past year. Runner-up at the 2025 Masters, winner of the FedEx St Jude Championship in August, and now on the verge of another PGA Tour title, he is proving that experience still counts for plenty in a sport increasingly dominated by youth.

This would be his first Farmers Insurance Open title and his 13th PGA Tour win overall – a milestone that would further cement his place among England’s most successful golfers. More importantly, it would serve as another reminder that Rose remains a factor on the biggest stages.

Not everyone enjoyed such a smooth Saturday. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, making his first PGA Tour start since returning from LIV Golf, endured a frustrating one-over-par 73. At two under for the tournament, he heads into the final round tied for 61st, well out of contention and searching for sharper form.

Ireland’s Seamus Power also slipped backwards. Four shots off the lead after round two, a disappointing 74 dropped him to 11 under, leaving him 10 shots adrift of Rose.

Final round awaits as Rose stays focused

Sunday, then, is about composure rather than ambition. Rose does not need to chase anything. He simply needs to play his game, hole by hole, shot by shot, trusting the process that has brought him this far.

“You’re going to come out, have to be focused, have to play well,” he said. “There’s no free pass.”

At Torrey Pines, there never is. But with a six-shot cushion, a wealth of experience, and a swing that looks as reliable as ever, Justin Rose stands on the edge of something special. If he finishes the job, it will not just be another win – it will be a triumph of patience, persistence, and class at the Farmers Insurance Open.