SAN DIEGO — The failed close calls to winning on the PGA Tour can be excruciating in the moment, but as the scar tissue builds so does the wisdom.

Harris English clearly relishes a challenge. When he faced months of rehabilitation after hip surgery, he says he welcomed it. When he encounters ferocious wind or devilish course setups at his beloved Torrey Pines,

Harris English finished with a flurry Friday afternoon in the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open, carding birdies on his final three holes for a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke lead over Andrew Novak heading into Saturday’s final round.