PGA Tour reaches Torrey Pines

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2012 Farmers Insurance Open | Preview | 25 Jan 2012

The PGA Tour is in La Jolla in southern California for this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, already the fourth event of the 2012 season.

The event is played over both the North and South courses at Torrey Pines on the opening two days before those making the cut will play the final 36 holes over the higher profile South Course.

The South Course has played host to this event since the tournament moved here from the Stardust Golf Club in 1968 but was also scene of one of the great US Open dramas when Tiger Woods won the 2008 Championship on virtually one leg.

There is quite a disparity between the two layouts, the South Course measuring nearly 700 yards longer than the North.

This year San Diego’s favourite golfing sons and three time winner of this event, Phil Mickelson, will start as one of the favourites despite some perhaps average form in recent months. It appeared last week in la Quinta that Mickelson was using the event to get his game in shape for what lay ahead and so a dramatic improvement would not surprise. Mickelson finished runner-up last year.

Dustin Johnson is the leading world ranked player in the field and the only one from the world top ten. He withdrew from the third round last week at the Humana Challenge but given he is in this week’s field it appears that his back complaint has been sorted.

Johnson finished third in this event last year and seems to have a linking for Californian oceanside courses having played beautifully at Pebble Beach in recent years. His form over his last few starts has been a little concerning however.

Nick Watney has reason to be optimistic about his chances this week. He won this event in 2009 and has been inside the top ten in 2010 and 2011. He finished 12th at his opening event of the season at Kapalua and it would be a surprise if he was not in the hunt again this week.

Bubba Watson is the defending champion and has also recorded two other top tens, his length an advantage at this venue, especially over the South Course.

Ernie Els is an intriguing entrant. He has played this event on only twice finishing inside the top ten on both occasions. Normally he is playing events in the Middle East about now but he is in the field and after a good tournament last week in South Africa he could surprise. His year in 2011 was very ordinary but he might have made a turnaround last week.

Charles Howell is another who has played the event well without winning. He has been twice second and recorded several other top tens. Howell has put together some very good tournaments over the last six months and he could well continue his good record here this week.

Ben Crane has started the 2012 season very well and having won this event in 2010 then he appears to be a genuine chance.

Keegan Bradley finished 15th in the event in his rookie season last year then went on to win twice in 2011 including a major. He continues to compile a lot of good tournaments and has made a solid start to 2012. His chances look good.

13 Australians and one New Zealander are in the field. Marc Leishman, Aaron Baddeley, Jarrod Lyle, Geoff Ogilvy, Nathan Green, Mathew Goggin, Greg Chalmers, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Nick O’Hern, Rod Pampling, Gavin Coles, Matthew Giles and New Zealander Danny Lee make up that list.

Matthew Giles earned his start via Monday qualifying where he shot 66 to earn one of the four places in the field.

Steven Bowditch and Matthew Jones are also chances of getting starts given their high standing on the alternate list.

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