Farmers Insurance Open Preview, TV Times

Jason Day defends Farmers Insurance Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 22 January 2019

The PGA Tour remains in California this week for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Jason Day defends and Tiger Woods starts.

Farmers Insurance Open Preview, TV Times

Tiger Woods joins a strong field at Torrey Pines to contest the Farmers Insurance Open. Jason Day is defending champion and Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are on the start list.

There’s a great line up for this event. Other stars in the field include Masters champion Patrick Reed, World Number 1 Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.

This tournament began life as the San Diego Open way back in 1927 and from 1996 to 2009, it was known as the Buick Invitational. In that guise it was won six times by Tiger Woods. Since 2010, Farmers Insurance has been the title sponsor and Tiger won again here in 2013. Woods also won the U.S. Open over the South Course at Torrey Pines, playing on a broken leg in 2008.

In last year’s event Jason Day came through a Monday playoff against Alex Noren. It took six extra holes to decide the outcome of the tournament.

The event is contested over the two courses at Torrey Pines – North and South. The pros 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 U.S. Open. It is scheduled to welcome the U.S. Open again in 2021.

The weather looks like behaving with little wind and pleasant temperatures.

Venue: Torrey Pines GC (south), San Diego, California Date: Jan 24-27 Course stats: South – par 72, 7,698 yards; North – par 72, 7,258 yards Purse: $7,100,000 Defending champion: Jason Day (-10)

How to watch the Farmers Insurance Open

TV Coverage: Thursday 24 – Sky Sports Golf from 8pm Friday 25 – Sky Sports Golf from 8pm Saturday 26 – Sky Sports Golf from 7pm Sunday 27 Sky Sports Golf from 6pm

Not a Sky Sports customer and want to watch the Farmers Insurance Open?

BUY NOW: Now TV Sky Sports Pass – £7.99 for a day, £12.99 for a week or £33.99 for a month

Players to watch:

Marc Leishman – The Australian is on a great run of form. He’ been second, tied fourth and tied third in his last three starts. He’s twice been tied second at Torrey Pines.

Jon Rahm – He won this event in 2017 and is on good current form – four top-10s in his last four starts, including a win.

Alex Noren – Missed out to Jason Day in a playoff for this event last year. He’ll look to go one better this time out.

Key hole: 12th (South.) A monster par 4 of 504 yards, bunkers wait left and right for both drive and approach shot. If the wind blows hard against, some players will struggle to reach the putting surface in two shots.

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Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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