Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Strong winds forced a suspension of play in the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in California, tournament organisers said on Thursday. Play at the picturesque venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean was halted at 2:05pm (2205 GMT) local time after powerful gusts made the course unplayable. “Play suspended due to high winds during second round of Farmers Insurance Open,” the PGA Tour confirmed on X, formerly Twitter. The second round was due to resume at 3:30pm local time, organisers said.
Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, the first round leader, remained on top of the leaderboard when play was halted after brutal conditions led to a flurry of high scores. “I don’t know I’ve been to Torrey with this much wind before,” US player Joel Dahmen told the Golf Channel during his second round before play was halted. “We have Santa Ana winds that are coming in from the east, and every now and then we get a switch off the ocean, which is a super strange day. Really difficult to play in.”
Those teeing off early on Thursday found the going a struggle. Zac Blair and Zach Johnson, who were three shots off the lead after carding six-under-par 66s in Wednesday’s opening round, had plummeted to level par when play was suspended. Blair shot a six-over-par 78, while Johnson was six over through 15 holes.
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