The infamous Santa Ana winds have made their presence known at Torrey Pines this week, as these powerful gusts forced the PGA Tour to suspend play for nearly 90 minutes during Thursday’s second round.
Only one player, Jackson Suber, carded a sub-70 round on the South Course on Thursday, proof that the pros had a brutal time navigating the course that has hosted two U.S. Opens. Friday’s third round saw much calmer conditions, which explains why the scoring average was nearly four shots lower than the day before. Harris English separated himself from the pack thanks to three late birdies, and he leads Andrew Novak by a shot at 9-under par. But Saturday’s forecast calls for stronger winds to return, with gusts up to 30 miles per hour.
“I know it’s going to blow a little bit more tomorrow,” said young South African Aldrich Potgieter, who is two shots back at 7-under.
“Just try and stay prepared.”
Eric Cole, the 36-year-old journeyman known to play seemingly every week, provided some perspective on what the winds can do at Torrey Pines. Given the course’s exposure to the Pacific Ocean, anything is possible.
“Very tricky and very unique,” Cole said after Thursday’s wind.
“I know it can blow here a little, but it just seemed like extra gusty and kind of switching directions for a little, so it made it tough.”
Thursday’s melee saw the wind roar toward the ocean, in line with the Santa Ana winds that howl west and toward the coast from California’s inland deserts. But players during Friday’s third round saw the wind switch entirely, blowing off the ocean and from the west, even though these gusts dropped dramatically. The direction for Saturday’s final round will remain the same, except a cold front is beginning to descend upon California, increasing the strength of the winds and creating plenty of unpredictability. Rain may fall at some point, too, making it even more challenging for the contenders.
But given how difficult Torrey Pines South is, coupled with the weather, any player that is even six or seven shots back has a chance. Yes, that includes the likes of Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama, who are tied for 15th at 3-under par and sit six shots back of English. Ludvig Åberg and Sungjae Im, two players who can make a barrage of birdies, are 4-under and most certainly in the thick of it. Only three players — English, Novak, and Potgieter — are 6-under or lower. Should this final trio struggle in the wind, a likely scenario considering the forecast, the rest of the field will be right there to capitalize.
It looks like more chaos will ensue at Torrey Pines.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
