Farmers Insurance Open, 3rd Round - Cream Rises

All the guys whose names I couldn't remember faded today during the 3rd round of the Farmers Insurance Open. They were instead replaced by more familiar monikers like Mickelson, Mahan, Watson, and Kim. Ideal conditions, albeit sneaky, tough greens, meant the day was tailor made for experience. Unless your name was Woods or Daly.

Bill Haas kept a tentative hold on 1st with a -1, 71, -12 total. Phil's superb 68 matched him and will plant them in the final group tomorrow. An apt test for young Haas. Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson are just one back at -11. Anthony Kim's injury concerns seem to be alleviated and he sits at -10. Jhonattan Vegas evidently hasn't heard that he's a tour rookie. -9 puts him within sniffing distance. Pressure doesn't appear to affect the young Venezuelan and that alone may serve him well and the more prominent names battle ahead of him tomorrow. The guy's got it in the bank already for 2011 with an early victory.

The "Farmers" title fit Mr. Woods to a tee today as he hacked, blasted, skulled, and otherwise looked like he was only trying  to uproot soil on his way to an unremarkable 74, and an 8 shot deficit. Hope the tomatoes come out OK. Time will tell. For the historians in the crowd, this was Woods' first over par round at Torrey Pines since 2002. I can't discern much difference in Woods' current struggles vs the expected troubles last year in the wake of the meltdown. Take two weeks off then quit? His tour buddies claim he's "close" and "right there". They've been saying that for some time. Since last year as I recall. Mr. Daly imploded with a 76 that'll get him out from in front of the camera tomorrow. He's tied with El Tigre, -4.

Interesting enough event thus far. I'll tune in on a Sunday afternoon without much else happening. Will you?






Til' next,