We preview the Farmers Insurance Open which takes place at Torrey Pines from 25 January – 28 January.
I could start with an allusion to Jon Rahm’s victory last year- or in fact his victory last week- but there is really only one subject that is dominating the golfing world this week: the return of Tiger Woods. After an encouraging return at his own event- the Hero World Challenge- Tiger is teeing it up this week against a full field certainly represents a risk for a man whose every movement is scrutinized exhaustively.
Ever a divisive figure- there will likely be factions hoping for yet another false dawn- Tiger still possesses the inalienable ability to capture the imagination. And what better place to return than the place of his last Major triumph: Torrey Pines.
Farmers Insurance Open | 25 January – 28 January | Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California
Formerly known as the San Diego Open, this event has been played at the North and South Course at Torrey Pines since 1968. The two courses are interchanged for the first two days before switching to the more imposing South Course for the weekend. The South Course is a beast, measuring at a smidge under 7,700 yards. Having said that, the likes of KJ Choi and Ben Crane appear on honours board here, suggesting that guile is not lost entirely here. The rough on the South Course is punitive while the combination of fast Bentgrass and Poa Annua greens over the two courses make for a unique test.
Following Tommy Fleetwood’s success defending his Abu Dhabi title, likely Ryder Cup partner Jon Rahm will be confident in defending his first ever title, especially after a thrilling victory at the CareerBuilder last week. Ricky Fowler has had an encouraging start to the season while former champ Jason Day looks to recapture the form that propelled him to World Number One. But all eyes will invariably fall upon that man, and you can rest assured- be it positive or negative- the bye-line will certainly belong to the Tiger.
Past Winners
2017: Jon Rahm (-13)
2016: Brandt Snedeker (-6)
2015: Jason Day (-9)*playoff
2014: Scott Stallings (-9)
2013: Tiger Woods (-14)
To Win Outright:
Jon Rahm 8/1 | Ricky Fowler 11/1 | Hideki Matsuyama 14/1 | Justin Rose 18/1 | Jason Day 18/1
Value Bets
Mark Leishmann- To Win 22/1, To Place 48/10
Currently ranked eighth in the World Rankings, Leishmann is always one of those guys overlooked in the betting markets- especially giving his amazing consistency over the last 12 months. Twice runner-up in this event, Leishmann’s all-around solid game is perfectly suited to the through test of golf that Torrey Pines dishes out. He finished in the top 20 here last season and recently picked up a win on home soil.
Ollie Schniederjans: To Win 50/1, To Place 11/1
Since his emergence as a sensational amateur player (who could possibly forget that top 15 finish at the Open?) Schniederjans has made a smooth transition to the professional ranks. He finished ninth here last season and showed encouraging signs of form at the recent Sony Open. He has a perfect game off this course, with prodigious length off the tee coupled with the ability to hit the ball at a lower trajectory- thereby negating the wind that can afflict this course.
Harris English: To Win 110/1 To Place 24/1
Though both his wins came in 2013 and he isn’t exactly coming off of an explosive season, Harris English certainly looks appealing at this price. The joint runner-up behind Jason Day in 2015, English clearly has an affinity for this course. He finished in a credible 14th place last season and surged up the leaderboard at last week’s CareerBuilder Challenge. Three rounds of 68 or better should fill English with confidence going into an event that has treated him well in the past. He will be looking to get off to a fast start following a disappointing end to last season.
The Man to Beat- Ricky Fowler: To Win 12/1, To Place 26/10
It’s perhaps a bit puzzling that I’m backing a guy coming off of two consecutive missed cuts at this very event. But Fowler did manage to finish inside the top 20 in his first four appearances here. That included fourth and fifth place finishes in 2010 and 2013 respectively. Fowler also happens to be in sensational form. He finished runner-up at the OHL Classic before emerging victorious at the Hero World Challenge. He went on to finish fourth in the Sentry Tournament of Champions, making his 12/1 look somewhat more inviting than Rahm’s first ever title defence.
