After a potential career-best three days that saw Joel Dahmen shoot 15-under-par through 54 holes, his words held a different tone, one that seemed to be grasping for any sliver of hope.

“My only hope is if he doesn’t set his alarm.” Dahmen said.

It’s quite rare to hear an athlete almost admit defeat before one of the biggest days of their career, but for Dahmen, it was about as accurate a statement as he could’ve given.

The comment not only encapsulates Dahmen’s attitude on the golf course, but also the tone that many golfers had this weekend in San Diego.

In what was a whirlwind of a week for the PGA Tour that included Brooks Koepka’s first non-major tournament since 2022, former champion Patrick Reed announcing his return to the tour, and the overall stress that comes with opening up a season, there was a lot of uncertainty in the golf world.

Even then, one thing stayed consistent: 45-year-old Justin Rose.

While the media focused on the drama that comes with the return of PGA greatness, Rose’s game quietly bloomed. Before anyone knew it, he was leading the field of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines by three strokes at the end of day one. 

Rose’s lead never went below that number for the rest of the tournament, as he shot 23-under-par in a wire-to-wire effort that included setting the new 72-hole tournament scoring record.

What makes the Englishman's feat so impressive is the sheer length of Torrey Pines, widely regarded as one of the longest and toughest courses that the tour visits.

To not only win the tournament, but to run away and hide the way Rose did, speaks to the level of work he does to keep his game as well as his body and mind in shape

“I do really still believe there is some good stuff ahead of me,” Rose said on the 18th green following his win, as he spoke about what the future holds and if this was just the beginning of a big run.

That, of course, is easier said than done, as players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy still headline the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, with the aforementioned Koepka and Reed bound to reinforce an already loaded PGA field.

Koepka was the only one of those four who played at Torrey Pines, and while he did manage to sneak into the weekend on the cutline at three-under-par, there was a lot to be desired about his performance.

The biggest thorn in the five-time major champion’s side was his putting, as announcers and reporters went on and on about his lack of control on the greens.

It was especially apparent on Saturday, as he lost almost five ½ strokes to the field with his putter, headlined by the 18th hole, where he three-putted from within five feet to end his day.

After his tournament concluded at four-under-par, Koepka was asked about what changes he made after Saturday’s round, putting-wise, to show such an improvement on Sunday.

“I mean it wasn’t great today, I think I kinda overdid it…” the former LIV Golf star said in his usual monotone mood.

Regardless of his tonality, Koepka was almost even with the field with his putter on Sunday, setting him up with some momentum going into the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a tournament he has not only won, but has been very vocal about loving.

Koepka finished in a tie for 56th, but much like the final threesome, still created a lot of storylines.

Besides Rose, the open’s final group included 23-year-old Japanese-born Ryo Hisatsune, who burst onto the scene in a major way by recording his best-ever finish and tying for second with Pierceson Coody and Si Woo Kim at 16-under-par. 

Rose and Hisatsune were accompanied by the fan favorite Dahmen, who shot a 73, his worst round of the tournament, on the final day and dropped into a tie for seventh.

While not the final day Dahmen may have hoped for, a top 10 finish goes a long way for someone who does not have their full-time tour card. Good results will continue to pave the way for more sponsor exemptions, which is exactly what is allowing him to play in the Phoenix Open next weekend.

The “Full Swing” star had a score that, following 54 holes, was normally good enough to win the tournament. However, Rose had his foot on the pedal to the final green, leaving no doubt who the champion was.

“The way he’s playing and what he’s doing, I would be pleased with second place,” Dahmen said, “I can’t really play defense on him.”

There was no defending Rose this weekend, as his alarm did, in fact, go off Sunday morning.