Farmers Insurance Open Explained

Farmers Insurance Open
Location:San Diego, California
Establishment:1952[1]
Course:Torrey Pines Golf Course
(South Course)
(North Course)
Par:72
Yardage:7765yd (S)
7258yd (N)
Org:Century Club of San Diego
Tour:PGA Tour
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:January
Aggregate:266 George Burns (1987)
266 Tiger Woods (1999)
To-Par:−22 as above
Current Champion: Matthieu Pavon
Map:USA#USA California
Map Label:Torrey Pines
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:230
Coordinates:32.903°N -117.245°W

The Farmers Insurance Open is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held in San Diego, California. The tournament was founded in 1952. It has been held at Torrey Pines Golf Course, a 36-hole public facility owned by the City of San Diego, since 1968.

The tournament is held annually in the early part of the season known as the "West Coast Swing". In the current format, players split the first 36 holes between the North and South Course, then play the final 36 holes on the South Course. It is organized by The Century Club of San Diego.

History

Founded in 1952 as the San Diego Open, the first two editions were played at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista.[2] [3] In 1954, the tournament was played at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club,[4] which had hosted the Crosby Pro-Am prior to World War II.[5]

Although the San Diego Open began in 1952, the PGA Tour recognizes two earlier events of the same name: Leo Diegel won both events, in December 1927 and January 1929.[6] [7] An autumn event in 1956 and 1957,[8] [9] it was not held in 1958, then returned as a winter event in early 1959.[10]

The event was played at Mission Valley Country Club in 1955,[11] then went to Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon in October 1956.[8] The tournament returned to Mission Valley C.C. in 1957,[9] where it stayed through 1963.[12] Mission Valley changed its name to Stardust Country Club in 1962 (now Riverwalk Golf Club). After one edition in 1964 at Rancho Bernardo Country Club (now Rancho Bernardo Inn) in San Diego,[13] it returned to Stardust for three years, through 1967.[14] [15] [16]

In 1968, the event began its present relationship with Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, a 36-hole public facility owned by the City of San Diego. During those early editions at Torrey Pines, the course length was under 6850yd.[17] [18] [19] Singer-actor Andy Williams was a celebrity host from 1968 through 1988.[20] [21]

Title sponsors were first added in 1955, with Convair added to the name for two years. In 1981, Wickes was the title sponsor for two years, followed by three with Isuzu. Shearson Lehman Brothers became the title sponsors in 1986, replaced by Buick in 1992 and Farmers Insurance in 2010.[22]

Since 2022, it has started on Wednesday and concluded on Saturday, a day prior to the conference championships of the NFL playoffs.[23]

The South Course has hosted the U.S. Open twice: Tiger Woods won in a playoff in 2008,[24] and Jon Rahm won in 2021.

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upPurse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
Farmers Insurance Open
275 −13 1 stroke 9,000,000 1,620,000
275 −13 2 strokes 8,700,000 1,566,000
273 −15 Playoff 8,400,0001,512,000
274 −14 5 strokes 7,500,0001,350,000
273 −15 1 stroke 7,500,0001,350,000
267 −21 2 strokes 7,100,0001,278,000
Jason Day (2) 278 −10 Playoff 6,900,0001,242,000
275 −13 3 strokes 6,700,0001,206,000
Brandt Snedeker (2) 282 −6 1 stroke 6,500,0001,170,000
279 −9 Playoff 6,300,0001,134,000
279 −9 1 stroke 6,100,0001,098,000
Tiger Woods (7) 274 −14 4 strokes 6,100,0001,098,000
272 −16 Playoff 6,000,0001,080,000
272 −16 1 stroke 5,800,0001,044,000
275 −13 1 stroke 5,300,000954,000
Buick Invitational
277 −11 1 stroke 5,300,000954,000
Tiger Woods (6) 269 −19 8 strokes 5,200,000936,000
Tiger Woods (5) 273 −15 2 strokes 5,200,000936,000
Tiger Woods (4) 278 −10 Playoff 5,100,000918,000
Tiger Woods (3) 272 −16 3 strokes 4,800,000864,000
278 −10 Playoff 4,800,000864,000
Tiger Woods (2) 272 −16 4 strokes 4,500,000810,000
275 −13 1 stroke 3,600,000648,000
Phil Mickelson (3) 269 −19 Playoff 3,500,000630,000
Phil Mickelson (2) 270 −18 4 strokes 3,000,000540,000
align=center style="background:#ACE1AF;"266 align=center style="background:#ACE1AF;"−22 2 strokes 2,700,000486,000
204 −12 Playoff 2,100,000378,000
275 −13 2 strokes 1,500,000270,000
269 −19 2 strokes 1,200,000216,000
Buick Invitational of California
269 −19 4 strokes 1,200,000216,000
268 −20 1 stroke 1,100,000198,000
278 −10 4 strokes 1,000,000180,000
Steve Pate (2) 200 −16 1 stroke 1,000,000180,000
Shearson Lehman Brothers Open
268 −20 2 strokes 1,000,000180,000
Shearson Lehman Hutton Open
275 −13 2 strokes 900,000162,000
271 −17 2 strokes 700,000126,000
Shearson Lehman Hutton Andy Williams Open
269 −19 1 stroke 650,000117,000
Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open
align=center style="background:#ACE1AF;"266 align=center style="background:#ACE1AF;"−22 4 strokes 500,00090,000
204 −12 Playoff 450,00081,000
Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open
269 −19 Playoff 400,00072,000
272 −16 Playoff 400,00072,000
271 −17 1 stroke 300,00054,000
Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open
270 −18 1 stroke 300,00054,000
278 −10 Playoff 250,00045,000
Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational
Tom Watson (2) 275 −13 Playoff 250,00045,000
282 −6 5 strokes 250,00045,000
278 −10 3 strokes 200,00040,000
269 −19 5 strokes 180,00036,000
J. C. Snead (2) 272 −16 1 stroke 180,00036,000
279 −9 Playoff 170,00034,000
275 −13 1 stroke 170,00034,000
278 −10 1 stroke 170,00034,000
275 −13 1 stroke 150,00030,000
272 −16 3 strokes 150,00030,000
275 −13 Playoff 150,00030,000
284 −4 1 stroke 150,00030,000
273 −15 1 stroke 150,00030,000
San Diego Open Invitational
269 −15 1 stroke 71,00013,200
268 −16 4 strokes 45,0005,800
267 −17 Playoff 39,0004,850
274 −6 2 strokes 30,0004,300
270 −14 1 stroke 25,0003,500
277 −7 Playoff 25,0003,500
Arnold Palmer (2) 271 −13 1 stroke 22,5002,800
269 −19 1 stroke 22,5002,800
274 −14 1 stroke 20,0002,800
1958: No tournament
1957 271 −17 1 stroke 15,0002,400
Convair-San Diego Open
1956 270 −18 2 strokes 15,0002,400
1955 Tommy Bolt (2) 274 −14 2 strokes 15,0002,400
San Diego Open
1954 Gene Littler (a) 274 −14 4 strokes 15,0002,400
1953 274 −14 3 strokes 10,0002,000
1952 276 −12 3 strokes 10,0002,000
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[25] [26]

Records and trivia

External links

32.903°N -117.245°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.farmersinsuranceopen.com/pdfs/2010_Tournament.pdf Media Guide Book p. 20
  2. News: Ted Kroll's 276 wins San Diego tourney . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 21, 1952 . 18 . Google News Archive.
  3. News: Bolt suppresses temper for $2000 . Pittsburgh Press . United Press . January 19, 1953 . 21 . Google News Archive.
  4. News: Littler beats pros, wins San Diego . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 25, 1954 . 18 . Google News Archive.
  5. News: John Dawson, amateur, wins Crosby golf . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . February 2, 1942 . Google News Archive.
  6. News: December 19, 1927 . Diegel is winner of pro tourney . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington) . 18 . Google News Archive . Associated Press.
  7. News: January 7, 1929 . Leo Diegel wins San Diego Open . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington) . 11 . Google News Archive . Associated Press.
  8. News: October 8, 1956 . Rosburg wins golf tourney . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . 2B . Google News Archive . United Press.
  9. News: November 4, 1957 . Palmer wins golf tourney . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 28 . Google News Archive . Associated Press.
  10. News: February 2, 1959 . Marty Furgol winner in San Diego Open . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 21 . Google News Archive . Associated Press.
  11. News: Bolt's 274 wins by two strokes . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 24, 1955 . 18 . Google News Archive.
  12. News: Player's clutch putt wins San Diego Open . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 14, 1963 . 23 . Google News Archive.
  13. News: Wall wins San Diego Open . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 13, 1964 . 22 . Google News Archive.
  14. News: Ellis beats Casper in golf playoff . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press . January 18, 1965 . 23 . Google News Archive.
  15. News: Slim Casper carries weight in hometown . Pittsburgh Press . UPI . January 17, 1966 . 31 . Google News Archive.
  16. News: Goalby starts fast, ends long drought . Pittsburgh Press . UPI . January 16, 1967 . 39 . Google News Archive.
  17. News: Trio shares lead . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press . February 11, 1968 . 4B . Google News Archive.
  18. News: Littler shoots 67, assumes golf lead . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . February 2, 1969 . 2B . Google News Archive.
  19. News: Nicklaus gains control as Jackline falls back . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . February 1, 1970 . 3B . Google News Archive.
  20. News: February 12, 1968 . Weiskopf cops Williams Open . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . 4B . Google News Archive . Associated Press.
  21. News: February 22, 1988 . Pate makes key birdie for victory . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . 2B . Google News Archive . Associated Press.
  22. Web site: January 18, 2010 . Farmers Insurance to sponsor San Diego Tour event . March 13, 2013 . PGA Tour.
  23. News: Kenney . Kirk . January 24, 2022 . Farmers Insurance Open set to debut Wednesday-Saturday schedule at Torrey Pines . January 27, 2024 . San Diego Union-Tribune.
  24. Book: PGA Tour 2007 Official Guide . January 2007 . 1–5, 3–10, 11, 11–5.
  25. Web site: Farmers Insurance Open – Past Winners & Runners-Up . PGA Tour.
  26. Web site: 2009 Buick Invitational Media Guide - Tournament History . www.buickinvitational.com.
  27. News: Littler beats pros, wins San Diego . . Associated Press . January 25, 1954 . 18 . January 29, 2013 . Google News Archive.
  28. News: Miller wins by 1 over on-rushing Nicklaus . . Associated Press . February 1, 1982 . 3C . January 29, 2013 . Google News Archive.
  29. News: Joe Louis among 132 starters in San Diego golf . . . Associated Press . Myers . Bob . January 17, 1952 . 22 . January 29, 2013 . Google News Archive.