Farmers Insurance Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

JON RAHM returns to Torrey Pines, the scene of both his breakthrough PGA Tour victory, and his maiden major triumph at last year's US Open, for the Farmers Insurance Open. His win in 2017 was achieved in the most dramatic fashion when he holed a 60-foot putt on the final green for an eagle. It was the start of a run that saw him well off 10 top-10 finishes in his next 18 starts - 12 months later he had risen to number three in the world rankings.

He now tops the rankings of course and is the reigning US Open champion and he will be relishing his return to San Diego. In five career starts he has four times finished in top seven and has never finished outside the top 30. 

Last year’s tournament was won by Patrick Reed, who cruised home to take the title by five shots, and will be back to defend.

Reed closed with a 4-under 68, making an eagle on the par-5 sixth and finishing off his ninth PGA Tour title with a birdie on the 18th.

The former Masters champion finished at 14 under after a consistent four days at the blufftop municipal courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He shared the first-round lead with Alex Noren, was in a group one shot off the lead in the second round and then shared the third-round lead with Carlos Ortiz.

Reed jump-started his final round with a 45-foot eagle putt on the No. 6 to get to 12 under and followed with a birdie on the par-4 seventh. His only bogey was on the par-3 eighth, and he rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. He played par the rest of the way until sinking an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Ryan Palmer, Henrik Norlander and Viktor Hovland tied for second.

Reed moved up 55 spots in the FedExCup standings to No. 10

Hovland had been the closest pursuer with four birdies on the front nine, including on the ninth to get to 12 under. But the birdies dried up and he bogeyed Nos. 14, 15 and 17 - missing a 2-footer on 17 - in a round of 1-under 71.

Ortiz stumbled badly with a round of 6-over 78. He hurt himself with three bogeys on the front nine that left him even at the turn. He had even more trouble on the back nine, when he bogeyed No. 11 and then had trouble getting out of a greenside bunker on No. 12, taking a double-bogey 6. He bogeyed 15, 16 and 18.

For a time, Tiger Woods must have regarded this tournament as his personal benefit. The 15-time major champion has won it seven times but he will, of course, be watching from the sidelines this year as he continues his rehabilitation.

This year’s tournament will have a Saturday finish to avoid clashing with the NFL playoffs. Among those taking part are Rahm, Reed, PGA champion Phil Mickelson, Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, Olympic champion Xander Schauffele and past winners Marc Leishman, Brandt Snedeker, Scott Stallings and Ben Crane.

This is an important year for Snedeker, who won this tournament in 2012 and 2016. He is in the middle of a run of five straight events as he desperately tries to rediscover his best form. Now 41, he has won nine times on the PGA Tour but hasn’t tasted success since the 2018 Wyndham Championship. He missed his first three cuts this season but there were some encouraging signs at the Sony Open, where he finished in a tie for 36th place despite a final round of 70 when all around him were making birdies for fun.

Matsuyama may well be the man to beat again. The Japanese golfer has been on fire since winning The Masters in April, winning the ZOZO Championship and the Sony Open and coming within a whisker of winning a bronze medal at the Olympic Games, where he only missed out in a playoff. Matsuyama has changed his swing, eliminating the pause at the top of his backswing. He has always been a long hitter but has found an extra 10 yards and when you add a new-found accuracy with his approach shots and a vastly improved putting stroke, it all adds up to a golfer who seems to contend just about every time he plays.

And the same can be said of Rahm. During the 2020-21 season the Spaniard won the US Open and also enjoyed two runner-up finishes and two third places as well as a mind-blowing 15 top-10 finishes and 18 top-25 finishes. He missed just one cut on his way to accumulating $7.7m in prize money. He was also struck down with Covid twice and it is well documented that he felt he needed a complete rest from the game but he came roaring back at the Tournament of Champions, where he finished second after a thrilling battle with Australia’s Cameron Smith.

Schauffele is a four-time winner on the PGA Tour. The 28-year-old won the gold medal at the Olympic Games but his most recent success on tour came three years ago at the Tournament of Champions. He has a magnificent record in the majors, with nine top-10 finishes, but would be the first to admit that he has failed to live up to his potential. There were three runner-up finishes last season but they all came early in the year. However, his victory in Tokyo seems to have given him renewed confidence and he finished in a tie for fifth place at the Tour Championship in September. He has continued that good form this season but knows that he needs another win - and soon.

“We appreciate Farmers Insurance’s collaboration and innovative thinking with this shift in competition days,” said PGA Tour President Tyler Dennis. “The Tour’s first network event of 2022 wrapping up on Saturday combined with football games the following day will create an action-packed weekend for sports fans. Farmers Insurance has also shown extraordinary commitment to diversity in our game.”

Farmers Insurance initially committed to sponsor the 2010 tournament just 10 days before the opening round and just months after arriving in the San Diego community in response to devastating wildfires. More than a decade later, disaster resilience continues to be an important component of the business and community efforts of Farmers, while the focus on diversity and inclusion has grown.

Tournament Winners

It was won in 2015 and 2018 by Jason Day, in 2016 by Brandt Snedeker, in 2017 by Jon Rahm, in 2019 by Justin Rose, in 2020 by Marc Leishman and last year by Patrick Reed.

The Course

There are two courses at Torrey Pines, both designed by William Bell. The South Course measures 7,800 yards and the North Course 7,258 yards. Both are par 72s. The final two rounds are played on the fearsome South Course, where Tiger Woods won the US Open on a broken leg in 2008. The courses run along the clifftops and feature some sensational views of the Pacific Ocean. The signature hole is the par-five 18th, featuring a second shot played over a large pond to a green that slopes from back to front - it has been the scene of much drama over the years.

Form Guide

Jon Rahm will always have special memories of this tournament. It is where he recorded his first PGA Tour win in the most spectacular fashion. And when you add the fact that he is clearly in great form once again, he will be a very hard man to beat this week. Hideki Masuyama has won three times since April last year and has begun 2022 in sensational style. If you are looking for a decent outside bet, keep an eye on Jason Day. The Australian has struggled with injury but he is a two-time champion and if he arrives in San Diego in good shape he could do well again. 

To Win:

Jon Rahm. It’s hard to bet against him

Each Way:

Bryson DeChambeau. Looking for some love from the galleries

Each Way:

Xander Schauffele. Ready for a big year

Five to Follow:

Jon Rahm. In form and raring to go at his favourite venue

Bryson DeChambeau. If he keeps it in play he will be there or thereabouts

Xander Schauffele. Torrey Pines is made for him

Hideki Matsuyama. Now producing the goods again on a consistent basis

Dustin Johnson. Could do with a decent week

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Jason Day. The Australian has tumbled down the world rankings but he is fit again and could surprise a few people this year

Justin Rose. Looking to get his career back on track

Cameron Tringale. Must break his duck sooner or later

Michael Thompson. Has shown some good early-year form

Francesco Molinari. Make-or-break year for the Italian