Golf: PGA Tour – Farmers Insurance Open
Venue: Torrey Pines Golf Club, San Diego California
Dates: Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th January 2022
Tournament Preview
The 70th edition of the Farmers Insurance Open gets underway in San Diego with plenty of big names looking to get their respective seasons off to a flying start. Torrey Pines always provides a stern test for golfers and the West Coast Swing could have a huge impact for many players, with a Ryder Cup scheduled for September. Tiger Woods has won the title on 7 occasions and his absence will give the rest of the field cause for optimism – with previous winners also including the likes of Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, and Jason Day – testament to the prestige of the tournament. With $7.5 million to be won at Torrey Pines too this week, the stakes simply could not be higher, and it promises to be a superb weekend of golf.
Betting Preview
Outright Winner
There are plenty of big names in the field here at Torrey Pines and they will all be looking to pick up the winner’s cheque and trophy come Sunday:
Spaniard Jon Rahm is a previous winner of this event and also finished second in 2019, making him one of the favourites over course and distance at Torrey Pines.
2021 didn’t yield the winning spree many expected for Justin Thomas on the PGA Tour, but he is a quality operator and he could be in contention from the outset here.
American Xander Schauffele will be eager to get off to a flying start in 2022 and he could be a leading contender here, in conditions that should certainly suit his game.
Despite not producing his best stuff at the American Express last week, Tony Finau should arrive in California in good nick, and he could sneak under the radar somewhat this week.
Brooks Koepka has been battling injury problems for the past 12 to 18 months, but he looks to be fit and firing once more as he arrives at Torrey Pines looking to make an impression.
1st Round Leader
With plenty of money on the line here in California, plenty of players will fancy their chances of getting off to fast start:
This has the makings of a very important year for Matthew Wolff, and he will be desperate to put down a marker from the off here at Torrey Pines.
Two-time winner of this event Jason Day will be doing all he can to rekindle his best form and a return to familiar surrounds could see him kick on a level this week.
Top 10 Finish
With so many quality players assembled here in California, getting into the winning enclosure could be tough but there are plenty of candidates to finish in the top 10 come Sunday:
Dustin Johnson – 7/4
Former world number one Dustin Johnson is another player that struggled for form in 2021 but he is a clean ball striker and should be in the money places come Sunday afternoon.
Current Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama has already won well on the PGA Tour this season out in Hawaii and he could be another tough man to stop if he gets going here.
South Korean Sungjae Im is one of the most consistent operators on the PGA Tour, who very rarely misses cuts – which puts him bang in the mix to finish in the top 10 here.
Farmers Insurance Open betxchange.com Best Bets:
Outright Winner: Xander Schauffele – 16/1
1st Round Leader: Matthew Wolff – 45/1
Top Ten Finish: Dustin Johnson – 7/4
