Farmers Insurance Open: Power ranking the top 10 at Torrey Pines
The PGA Tour remains in the Golden State for another week for the Farmers Insurance Open at famed Torrey Pines
With the current PGA Tour schedule format, there’s one official start to the season with subsequent tournaments truly “feel” like golf in the new year has begun.
Officially, the 2018-19 season began with the Safeway Open in Napa Valley in October. That doesn’t really get the juices flowing, especially for the casual golf fan.
To many, the two-week Hawaii swing feels more like the true beginning. The Tournament of Champions was the previous season opener.
To the casual golf fan I referred to, this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at historic Torrey Pines will be the first time a lot of them will tune in for the year.
Tiger’s here gunning for his eighth tournament win. It’s the first time the weekend broadcast is on a big-time network (this week it’s CBS). While Phil Mickelson is breaking his streak of 28 straight tournament appearances, there’s still a who’s who of talent in La Jolla that exceeds any of the full field events to date.
I want to share my updated tour schedule: this week I will be playing here in the desert, Phoenix, Pebble Beach, and then defending my title in Mexico. My streak of 28-straight Farmers Insurance Opens will end next week. I will try to make it up to the great community of SD!
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 19, 2019
The tournament is played Torrey Pine’s North and South courses. The South has hosted the U.S. Open in the past with Tiger Woods’ 2008 win the last time. It’s also the course that will entertain players on the weekend.
Per usual, top 70 and ties make the 36-hole cut.
We have 50 years this course rotation so there’s plenty of course history to fall back on. With that said, the North was toughened after a 2016 renovation. It was lengthened to 7,258 yards but still pales to the 7,700-yard brute that is the South. Both are par 72s.
We don’t see as many scorchingly low scores on the North, but history shows you’ll want your one round there to be in the 60s if you’re going to keep up.
Torrey Pines values length but also accuracy. The thick rough can be penal, which often results in the winner resulting in a bomber on a good driving and putting week.
The South Course features poa annua greens for the first time in 2019. Look for Californians to have success this week not only for playing in their home state, but for being best accustomed to the sometimes bumpy, unpredictable putting surfaces.
Strokes gained tee to green, approach from the rough and approach with long irons are a few stats I plan to keep a close eye on for this week.
The early weather forecast shows no rain with highs in the low 70s and temperatures in the 50s and 60s for the morning rounds. In other words, just your typical perfect San Diego week in January. No big deal.
That’s what you need to know for the tournament, now let’s dive into the headliners of this star-studded field.