January 29, 2017
By Julia Pine
SAN DIEGO - The highly-anticipated PGA TOUR debut of Beau Hossler concluded Sunday, when the 21 year old shot 1-under par on the South Course at Torrey Pines to finish the Farmers Insurance Open T49. After a blazing hot opening round 67 on the North Course, which left the Mission Viejo CC member in a tie for third place on the leaderboard, Hossler shot rounds of 75 and 74 Friday and Saturday to fall out of contention. He did, however, make the cut in an event where a number of big names didn't see any weekend action, as Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day all failed to make the cut.
Hossler's round got off to quite the start, as he holed a bunker shot on his first hole of the day, No. 10 on the South Course, to quickly go 1 under. The colorful scorecard continued throughout Hossler's front nine, as he would card three birdies and three bogeys during the nine-hole stretch, including a near-miss birdie on the 18th hole (his 9th) that saw a 9-foot putt sail two feet past the hole. Missed scoring opportunities continued on Hossler's back nine, as he just missed a birdie putt on the par-3 3rd hole as well as the par-5 6th hole. He would collect his lone birdie of the back nine on the par-4 4th hole, knocking in a 10-footer from the fringe.
For Hossler, he showed poise all week, despite making his professional debut in front of family and friends at an event he attended every year as a kid. Never truly finding his A-game, Hossler battled each and every round, relying on his putting to stay in the mix. He was 29th in the field in strokes gained putting.
The two-time SCGA Amateur champion earned a spot in the field via sponsor's exemption, using the first of a likely seven that will be available to him this season. Hossler, who injured his shoulder in last year's NCAA Championships forcing him to miss Q-School, does not officially have any TOUR status. Looking to play in as many events as possible, Hossler will fly to Phoenix tonight before playing an afternoon round Monday in hopes of qualifying for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Regardless, he will play in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am the following week, where he has already secured a spot in the field.
Hossler led a large contingent of young Southern California talent in the field at the Farmers Insurance Open, with Aaron Wise (T71) of Lake Elsinore and Brian Campbell (T41) of Newport Beach joining Hossler within the cut line, and San Diego State alum J.J. Spaun put together four solid rounds to finish T8. Pat Perez, a San Diego native who has two PGA TOUR wins, earned his best finish yet at the Torrey Pines event, finishing T4 and four strokes behind champion Jon Rahm, who picked up his first TOUR victory with a dramatic eagle on the final hole.
"I just didn't have enough," said Perez. "Jon played unbelievably obviously to get to -13. I thought the number was going to be -12. I know what it takes to win here, and I just haven't been able to do it yet."
Also finishing T4 was local favorite Phil Mickelson, who feels like his game is close to 100 percent following a recent return from injury.
"I am really pleased with the way I'm swinging the club," said Mickelson. "I feel really good. This is the best I've swung it in awhile, and I'm excited about these upcoming events and hopefully I'll put it all together."
One of the toughest /roughest courses on Tour, my hometown course Torrey Pines! Beau is filling out like Gary Woodland. Both guys will continue to play well out here along with hometown favorites Phil & Pat!