Congested Leader Board at Farmers Insurance Open

Sports News - January 29th, 2010 - Written By John Ritter

One a picture-perfect California afternoon, players took to the North and South courses at Torrey Pines in San Diego, for the Farmers Insurance Open. The second stop on the West Coast Swing saw low scores produced over the first 18 holes of play. As expected, those who played on the Torry Pines North course are the names atop the leader board. Scott Piercy is alone in first, after firing an eight-under, 64. Four players are only one-shot behind.

The two courses that the tournament is staged, have no similarities. The North is flatter, has wider fairway and easier greens to putt on. Not to mention it is over 700 yards shorter than it's counterpart. Players each have to play one round on the North, and one round on the South before the 36 hole cut. From there, the final two days of competition are played on the more difficult South Course, site of the 2008 United States Open.

Only two of the top 16 scores in the field were shot on the South Course on Thursday. Piercy was among those who competed on the North Course in Round one, and took advantage. He made seven birdies in his first nine holes, and the thought of a 59 seemed possible. That was until he slipped up and made a bogey on the par-four, 11th hole. Piercy was not concerned with a 59.

"I shoot 59 every day," Piercy said. "I just have to keep on going, usually."

Piercy possesses a one-shot advantage over Ben Crane, Chris Tidland, Ryuji Imada and Matt Every. Each of those player played the North Course.

Despite being two-shots back of Piercy, Australian Robert Allenby perhaps executed the round of the day, with a five-under round of 67. He produced it on the South Course. Allenby feels that his round gives him the feeling as if he was leading.

"I gauge myself off this golf course," Allenby remarked after his round. "This is a real golf course. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have had a U.S. Open here. I don't want to say the other course is Mickey Mouse because that would be rude. But it's Mickey Mouse-ish."

Ryan Palmer, who defeated Allenby on the 72nd hole of the Sony Open also played a solid round on the south course, shooting 68. It would have been a 67, had it not been for a bogey on the 17th hole.

"There's definitely a lot of North Course scores," Palmer said. "I'm fortunate to play well on this golf course. I'm happy to get out of there with a round under par."

Palmer and Allenby should be able to take advantage of the vulnerable North Course, if they capitalize on the way they played Thursday. While the North Course has a significantly lower stroke average, good shots are still required.

The world's second-ranked player, Phil Mickelson began the tournament on the South course, and played a very steady round, shooting 70. He is poised to make a run up the leader board with a solid performance on the North course beginning Friday.

"I was a little more cautious today because I didn't want to make too many big mistakes," the lefty said. "I want to work my way into the tournament. [Jack] Nicklaus used to talk about that in majors, that he wanted to try to progress as the week went along, and I didn't want to try to come out and win the tournament on Thursday, because it's just not possible."

Despite being six shots behind the leader Piercy, Mickelson still headlines the betting favorites with three rounds to play. He and Allenby are tied atop Bodog odds, as both have been installed at 9/2 to claim the Farmers Insurance Open title according to the Golf Betting Lines.

Coverage of the tournament can be seen live on the Golf Channel beginning at 3pm EST on Friday. Saturday and Sunday will be picked up on CBS, coverage will begin at 3pm EST as well.