Golfers Battle Tough Conditions at Torrey Pines as Winds Wreak Havoc

The Farmers Insurance Open was suspended due to strong winds and darkness, with golfers facing extremely challenging conditions at Torrey Pines.

Strong winds caused chaos during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in California on Thursday, leading to a nearly two-hour suspension before play was eventually halted due to darkness. The picturesque venue, overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, became virtually unplayable due to the powerful gusts.

Lanto Griffin managed to navigate the challenging conditions, carding a level-par 72 on the south course to grab a share of the lead at six under. Meanwhile, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, the first-round leader, struggled to a three-over-par 75, but still finds himself tied for the lead at six under.

Aberg's second-round performance was a far cry from his blistering nine-under-par 63 in the opening round on Wednesday. The Swedish golfer faced much tougher conditions on Thursday, making his six-under total a testament to his resilience. Danny Walker, meanwhile, completed a demanding 18 holes on the north course with a two-over-par 74, leaving him just one shot off the lead at five under.

🚨🌬️🏌🏻‍♂️ JUST IN: Play has been suspended at Torrey pines due to high winds during second round of the Farmers Insurance Open 😲

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— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) January 23, 2025

Danny Walker described the challenging conditions at the Farmers Insurance Open as “crazy,” emphasizing the need to focus on each shot rather than worrying about the overall score. “Just a crazy day, for sure,” Walker said. “One of those days where you can't even think about what you're shooting, just got to do your best to hit every shot and just accept whatever happens. So much of where the ball's going to go is just out of your control. Did my best to just keep a level head and just take it one shot at a time. It's all you could do.”

Eric Cole battled to a one-under-par 71, finishing the second round on three under, three shots off the lead. Cole acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Torrey Pines, even in normal conditions. “It's an unbelievably challenging course to begin with in normal conditions,” Cole said. “It was tough, but it was also tricky. It was just an overall combination that made scoring really, really difficult.”

The early starters on Thursday faced significant challenges, with Zac Blair and Zach Johnson, who were three shots off the lead after the opening round, struggling to maintain their momentum. Blair shot a six-over-par 78, while Johnson carded a five-over-par 77, tumbling down the leaderboard as a result.