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It was a short week for those who appeared in last week’s American Express. The 2024 Farmers Insurance Open begins today and will run through Saturday evening. The tournament was moved up a day to avoid any potential competition with the NFL conference title games (Go Lions!). The tournament is at the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA. It’s been pouring the last few days in southern Cali, so look out for a wet course early in the week and some difficult scoring conditions.
Local kid and defending champion, Max Homa, tees it off this weekend and looks for his fifth title in his home state of California. This will be Homa’s first appearance since we saw him in Maui early this year. Fellow Califronian’s Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffle, and The Stump Hero: Sahith Theegala, also headed home for the week of golf ahead.
Many point to the Farmers as the unofficial opening of the 2024 season, as the Pebble Beach Pro-Am looms next weekend. Players will tee it off from the North and South Course for the first two days, and then the final two rounds will be played exclusively on the South Course. This, as well as the movement of the tournament to a Wednesday start, present some unique challenges to the field. Golf, In a sport of extreme routine, we’ll throw the normal schedule conditions out the window this week in San Diego. Combined with a wet course, we should see some interesting scores this weekend.
I look to guys who have had success at this course in the past to make runs this weekend.
PREDICTIONS:
Xander will be a Top 5 finisher again this weekend: Another close call this past weekend for Shauffele, as he was a T-3 finisher at the AmEx. It feels like only a matter of time before he breaks through into hoisting a trophy this season. Could another week of home cooking get him at the top of the leaderboard come Saturday? The Stomp thinks so.
Look out for the kid, Ludvig Aberg: After a tough first couple finishes to start the year, Ludvig took the weekend off and prepared for the Farmers. Torrey Pines fits his game well, as the young swede hits them long and straight. In this weekend's condition, and not having to push for a Wednesday start, I think Aberg has a shot to put some low scores out there.
Two guys who have been there before: Two Torrey regulars tee it off this week, and no I don’t mean Cali Kids. I’m looking at the Aussie Jason Day and Vermont’s finest Keegan Bradley. Keegan finished 2nd in the ‘23 Farmers, and he’s made 10/12 cuts and holds three top-5s in his last six at the Farmers. Keegan has played well to start the year, and he likes this course. Jason Day has two wins at Torrey Pines, and finished inside the top 16 in four out of last six appearances. Both Bradley and Day are experienced Torrey Pines Golfers, and with all the outside noise and routine-breakers going into this week, I look to them to have strong performances.
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