LOS ANGELES, California (AFP) — Germany’s Stephan Jaeger rolled in a 35-foot eagle putt from the fringe at his final hole on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead over Nicolai Hojgaard after the second round of the US PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Jaeger carded an eight-under par 64 on the North Course, one of two in use over the first two days of the tournament, for a 12-under par total of 132.
He snatched the solo lead with his eagle bomb at the par-five ninth hole — his last — moments after Hojgaard completed a bogey-free six-under par 66 on the North Course for an 11-under total of 133.
“I hit a good drive,” Jaeger said. “It was a little into the wind today, so we had 260, 270 pin. I kind of tugged it a little bit. I wanted it kind of go middle of the green and I went right at it, ended up landing just short of the pin and scooting kind of (to the) back fringe.
“Had a little downhill right-to-lefter about 35 feet and it ended up curling in. It was awesome to see that. Finishing like that, it was exciting.”
Jaeger, 34 and ranked 101st in the world, is chasing his first US PGA Tour title.
