Farmers Insurance Open: Expert Picks

Tournament Information

Farmers Insurance Open
Date: January 23^rd – 26^th
Course: Torrey Pines Golf Course
Purse: $7.5MM ($1.3MM to winner)
FedEx points: 500 to winner(s)
2019 Winner: Justin Rose (-21)

Course

Torrey Pines - Created in 1957 by William F Bell and redesigned by Rees Jones in 2001, this 7,600 yard long course (longest on PGA tour) runs right along the Pacific Ocean. They host canyons and thick grass along the perimeter and require a long shot off the tee. While they are fairly open for the more inaccurate tee shots, there are traps placed throughout to trip up the golfers not prepared. The greens can run into the ocean and it’s best to fall short.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

My Starting 4

Ryan Palmer (1st selection this year) — Ryan has top 15 finishes at Torrey Pines each of the last two years. In addition to that he has two top 20 finishes in January. Ryan is 45th in greens in regulation rank and 57th in total strokes gained.

Jon Rahm (1st selection this year) — Jon has top 30 finishes each of the last three years at Torrey Pines, he finished 10th earlier this month at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and he has one of the best average finishes in California courses over the last three years (only Henrik Stenson is better).

Tony Finau (1st selection this year) — Tony finished 14th last week at the American Express, he has an amazing track record at the Farmers Insurance Open with top 15 finishes each of the last three years. Tony’s only struggles are in putting, everywhere else he is top 90 in strokes gained, he will need the strong woods and irons here.

Gary Woodland (1st selection this year) — Gary had a 7th place finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions earlier this month, he comes to Torrey Pines where he has been a top 20 finisher from 2017 to now. In addition to this, he averages a 22nd place finish at California courses over the last three years. Gary is 19th in strokes gained off the tee and 14th in strokes gained tee to green.

My Bench 2

Lanto Griffin (1st selection this year) — Lanto finished 13th and 7th earlier in January at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open of Hawaii. He has a decent finish at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2018 where he finished 12th.

Hideki Matsuyama (1st selection this year) — Hideki finished 12th earlier this month at the Sony Open in Hawaii, he is strong at Torrey Pines with top 35 finishes each of the last three years. When you have a course this long, it helps that you are among the strongest drivers in the game.

2019 Stats (after two tournaments)

Starting 4: Avg finish 62nd (42nd percentile)
Bench 2: Avg finish 74th (49th percentile)