Heading into the weekend at the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open, Joel Dahmen delivered the kind of Round 3 his week had been building toward–a composed, confident performance that moved him firmly into contention behind the leader. Playing the Southth Course under favorable scoring conditions, Dahmen leaned on sharp ball-striking and timely putting to climb the leaderboard and put real pressure on the top spot without overreaching.
“I don’t get to play in the final group as much as some other guys, and so I try to look around and I try to enjoy it a little bit,” Dahmen said. “It’s really cool that people like watching me play golf or are out supporting me. That’s never going to get old.”
Dahmen’s Path to the Top
The 2021 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship winner went 4-under 68 after Saturday’s round, now trailing just six behind the leader, Justin Rose (-21). Dahmen didn’t sugarcoat the situation. Sitting in solo second at 15-under, Dahmen was blunt about what the leaderboard already suggested:
“No one’s beating him this week.” Rose has continued a dominant week at Torrey Pines with a steady 4-under 68 that pushed his total to 21-under par – a number that not only stretched his lead to six shots, but also moved him three strokes clear of the previous 54-hole tournament record.
For Dahmen, the frustration isn’t about his own play. Competing this season with conditional status, he’s put together one of the best weeks of his career on one of the toughest venues on Tour. The issue is timing. Rose, now 45, has been operating at a different level entirely, particularly with his iron play.
“To still have the drive with the career that he’s had is very impressive,” Dahmen said. “He puts a lot of work into his body. His ability to still grind and practice and spend the time on it when he’s got everything you could want is really impressive, honestly. It’s almost inspiring for me, I’m seven years younger than him, I’m getting outdriven by 30 yards. I’ve got to get in a little better shape to hang out with Justin.”
Over the past two days on the more demanding South Course, Rose has gained over seven strokes on approach, a staggering number even by elite standards. He opened Round 3 by stuffing approach shots inside nine feet on five of his first six par-4s, a stretch that set the tone for the day and left little doubt about who was in control.
The moment that seemed to crystallize the gap came early. Rose poured in four birdies in his first seven holes, capped by what may stand as the shot of the tournament: a held-off 9-iron from 159 yards, launched from the first cut, threaded over tree branches, and settled five feet from a back-right pin. That’s when Dahmen’s assessment turned definitive. “At that point, it’s Justin’s week,” he said.
The Field’s Shifting Dynamics: Contenders and Chasers
Behind Dahmen, the leaderboard remains dynamic as other strong performers jockey for positioning. Ryo Hisatsune and Si Woo Kim sit tied for third (-13), while Max McGreevy goes 12 under and takes fifth. Stephan Jaeger had a great round, jumping almost 40 spots up the leaderboard. He now ties with Maverick McNealy and Seamus Power for sixth (-11).
The presence of multiple players within a handful of strokes of Dahmen makes Sunday’s showdown one worth watching. With scoring opportunities still available on both par-5s and reachable par-4s, pressure will shift dramatically, and players who have yet to find lower numbers will need to strike in the right moments.
“If Justin makes his tee time and continues to play this way, he’s going to win the golf tournament,” Dahmen said. “He’s just playing too well. So, maybe he will not set his alarm correctly or something might happen that way.”
What’s at Stake on Sunday
Beyond the immediate dominance, Rose is now flirting with a rare piece of Torrey Pines history. Seeking his second win at the venue and 13th PGA Tour victory overall, he has a chance to go wire-to-wire in a way almost no one ever has in San Diego.
Should he close it out Sunday, Rose would become the first player since Tommy Bolt in 1955 to hold a solo lead in every round and win the Farmers Insurance Open – a feat that even Tiger Woods never accomplished during his seven victories at Torrey Pines. Johnny Miller went wire-to-wire in 1982 as well, but only after sharing the lead following the opening round, underscoring just how rare Rose’s position truly is.
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