Lowdown: The PGA Tour travels down the Californian coast this week to Torrey Pines in San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open. Tiger Woods makes his 2011 debut while Ben Crane defends the title. This tournament began life as the San Diego Open way back in 1927 and, until 2009, it was known as the Buick Invitational. In that guise it was won six times by Tiger Woods. The tournament is contested over the two courses at Torrey Pines - North and South. Players will play one round on each on Thursday and Friday before those who make the cut go on to play the last two rounds over the South Course. Revamped for the 2002 Buick Invitational, the South Course at Torrey Pines was the venue for the 2008 US Open. San Diego native Phil Mickelson will be making his 21st consecutive appearance in his tournament. He's won on three occasions (1993, 2000 and 2001) and finished in the top-five seven times. Last season Ben Crane held on for a narrow one-shot victory over Michael Sim, Brandt Snedeker and Marc Leishman.
Venue: Torrey Pines Golf Course, California Date: Jan 27-30 Course stats: North Course - par 72, 6,874 yards; South Course - par 72, 7,569 yards Purse: $5,800,000, Winner: $954,000 Defending Champion: Ben Crane (-13)
Player Watch: Tiger Woods - The former World Number 1 will make his 2011 debut in this event, expect him to come out firing. He's won this tournament six times and he won the 2008 US Open over the South Course playing on a broken leg. It's tough to look past him.
