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Farmers Insurance Open Power Rankings: Top ten at Torrey Pines

By Mike Randleman

SAN DIEGO, CA - JANUARY 29: Francesco Molinari of Italy plays his shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 29, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JANUARY 29: Francesco Molinari of Italy plays his shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 29, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
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Farmers Insurance Open
HONOLULU, HI – JANUARY 12: Xander Schauffele of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during round two of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 12, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

We’ve seen it plenty of times. A player finds success, then chases the money and switches club companies.

If someone ever told you that in your career you should leave money on the table for whatever reason, how quickly are you telling that person to buzz off? For that, I can’t blame Schauffele for his switch from TaylorMade to Callaway in 2018, but it raises some question marks if he can continue his strong play from 2017.

Golf’s fickle enough as it is as far as maintaining hot streaks go. Throwing a company change in the mix could be risky, but it also could very well be a good move in the end.

So far, Schauffele finished near the bottom of the pack (T22) at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and tied for 32nd against a modest field at the Sony Open in his last start.

If he doesn’t yet feel at home with his clubs, the La Jolla native and San Diego State alum will literally feel at home on a set of courses he’s well versed in. Schauffele missed the cut in his professional debut in 2017, but that was well before he rapidly transformed himself into a top-25 player in the world.

The 24-year-old is top-20 on the PGA Tour in driving, but outside the top 100 in accuracy. His length will be an advantage if he can navigate around the property as he knows how.

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