Here are the results from last weeks #AmericanExpress:
Xander Schauffele: T3 (-27)
Sungjae Im: T25 (-19)
Jason Day: T34 (-18)
Adam Hadwin: T6 (-25)
Cam Davis: CUT
Top 10:
J.T. Poston (+300): T11, absolute bad beat
Tony Finau (+320): T25. Miss.
Farmers Insurance Open
Tournament details
Date:Jan 24–27, 2024
Course:Torrey Pines South Course
Watch on:CBS, GOLF Purse:$9,000,000
The PGA TOUR heads from La Quinta, California, to San Diego, California, this week for the Farmers Insurance Open beginning on Wednesday. Iconic Torrey Pines Golf Course will be the host with both the South Course and North Course in play. The South Course, which will be played in three of the four rounds, measures as a massive 7,765-yard par 72.
The field is quite strong, as it usually is at Torrey Pines, with plenty of California ties in Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa and defending champion Max Homa set to tee it up.
Because of the NFL conducting both the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, the PGA Tour decided to move up the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open by one day. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
Ludvig Aberg: (22-1)
The rising star won six times worldwide last year and gained true strokes off the tee in every event where Shotlink data was tracked. Aberg disappointed in Hawaii, but Torrey Pines sets up perfectly for the ball-striking phenom. He ranks 10th in true strokes gained tee-to-green and sixth in true strokes gained off-the-tee in this field across his past 45 measured rounds, and Aberg has gained true strokes on approach in eight consecutive events.
Tony Finau: (28-1)
Torrey Pines fits Finau’s eye, as the 34-year-old American has five Top-10 finishes in his past seven trips, including a T2 result in the 2021 edition of this event. Finau ranks ninth in true strokes gained tee-to-green in this field across his past 28 measured rounds and he’s gained true strokes off the tee in each of his past eight events. I also value Finau gaining true strokes on the greens last week at The American Express because it had been an area of weakness.
Adrian Meronk: (60-1)
Add a runner-up finish in Dubai last week and Meronk heads to Torrey Pines with three consecutive Top-10 results and excellent form. Additionally, with driving at a premium, I particularly value Meronk’s tee game. He finished third in strokes gained off-the-tee on the DP World Tour last year and he ranks 22nd in true strokes gained off-the-tee and 19th in driving distance in this field across his past 40 measured rounds.
Luke List: (80-1)
Including his victory, List has six consecutive Top-40 results and another three Top 25s. He’s also played the weekend in nine straight events dating back to the summer and picked up his second career win at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October. Finally, List finished fourth in strokes gained approach when he won in 2022, and he’s gained true strokes on the field in both events this season. I'm also betting his Top 40 at +110.
Shane Lowry: (80-1)
The Irishman has the game to play well here and has a knack for taking what the course gives you and patiently taking advantage of scoring opportunities when they present themselves on difficult tracks. Additionally, he has some familiarity with the event and strung together T7-T13-T33 finishes from 2015-2017. Don’t fret about his missed cut at The American Express, either. Birdie contests don’t fit his skillset, and Lowry posted three consecutive Top-20 finishes on the DP World Tour this fall preceding last week’s blip on the radar. I also like his Top 40 at +100.
Austin Eckroat: (150-1)
Eckroat also heads to San Diego in solid form. He’s made five consecutive cuts and he gained strokes across the board at the Amex last week and has gained strokes off the tee in each of his past three events where ShotLink data was measured. This will be the 25-year-old Americans' third trip to the Farmers, so despite missing the cut the past two years, Ekroat’s current form is fit for a flier ticket. He had a strong amateur career, and now he’s finding his way at the highest level. I'm also backing his Top 40 at +163.
Hurts not to bet Max this year.
