No one else had a chance to beat Justin Rose at Torrey Pines on Sunday, and so his final challenge was to take on Tiger Woods.

Rose won that battle, too.

In what 45-year-old Rose felt was his most complete tee-to-green performance, he sailed to a two-under 70 for a seven-shot victory in the Farmers Insurance Open, breaking the 72-hole tournament record last set by Woods in 1999.

"Sorry, T-dub, if you're watching," Rose said in his CBS interview on the 18th green.

No apologies necessary. Rose knew the score. 

It's one of the goals he set to keep him pushing forward, even when no one got closer than the six-shot lead he had going into the final round. He tapped in for par to finish at 23-under 265, one better than Woods and George Burns in 1987.

Tommy Bolt in 1955 is the only other player to lead from start to finish without ties at Torrey Pines.

It all added to an astonishing performance by the Englishman who is playing some of the best golf in his long career and still looking for more. He moved to No. 3 in the world - only Vijay Singh was older when ranked that high in September 2008.

Rose opened with a 62 on the North course at Torrey Pines and really never let up all week, playing even better on the South course that has hosted two US Opens. He extended his lead after each round — by one shot, four shots, six shots and then a seven-shot margin, the largest of his career.

"I still believe there's good stuff in front of me," Rose said after collecting his 13th PGA Tour title.

This was little more than a battle for second and that was a tie. Si Woo Kim (69), Ryo Hisatsune (69) and Pierceson Coody (66) shared runners-up honours.

Adam Scott (68) finished in a tie for 30th as the best-placed Australian at eight under.

Compatriots Jason Day (72) and Karl Vilips (70) were one shot further back, with Cameron Davis (79) finishing two over the card.

Brooks Koepka (70) completed his return to the PGA Tour after defecting from LIV Golf with familiar cheers on the ninth when he tapped in a birdie putt for four under. There were some 300 people around the green, most of them shouting, "Welcome back, Brooks."

- with AAP

With AAP.