PGA First Look: Farmers Insurance Open

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

Tiger.

Woods.

Y’all.

Many consider this week to be the true start to the PGA season, as we return to San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open. This is the first big event of the year and we have a star-studded field. Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, Justin Rose, and of course, Tiger Woods headline the field in an event that we’ve all been waiting for. Before we get into the course breakdown, it’s important to note that this event is played on two courses — Torrey Pines South Course and Torrey Pines North Course. Golfers will play each course once before the cut is made. Both of the rounds on the weekend will be played on the South Course.

We’ll start with the South Course since three of the four rounds will be played here. It is by far the more difficult course of the two, ranking in the top six in difficulty in three of the last four years on the PGA Tour. At 7,698 yards, it is the longest tour on the PGA Tour. It does feature four par fives, but they all measure at least 550 yards, so you will need plenty of length off the tee if you plan to reach these par fives in two. The course features two different grass types — Kikuyu fairways and rough with Poa Annua greens. The fairways are tree-lined, while the greens are surrounded by bunkers. To make matter worse, the fairways are hard to hit and the greens are smaller than tour average.

The North Course is basically a polar opposite. It’s a fairly short Par 72 at 7,258 yards. It was redesigned in 2016, but should still play as the easier of the two. Over the years, it is routinely ranked in the bottom 15 in difficulty. This course also features a mix of grass types — Bermuda fairways, Kikuyu rough, and Bentgrass greens. The greens are about 15% larger than the South Course and the par fives play much easier. Golfers will only see this course once, so they better be prepared to go low. Basically every winner of this event has shot under par on the North Course.

This event typically plays similar to a U.S. Open (which is why this is a regular stop for the major), so keep that in mind when building lineups this week. Length off the tee isn’t a necessity, but outside of a select few, shorter hitters haven’t had nearly as much success as longer hitters. Strokes gained off the tee will be my heaviest weight this week, followed by strokes gained on approaches. With two different grass types in play, I will not be factoring in putting. Poa Annua greens (featured on the South Course) tend to even the playing field a bit when it comes to putting. I will also be weighing course history heavily. Seven of the last nine winners of this event had a top ten here previously.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the course and the field in the comment section below!

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties will move on and play the final two rounds.

Recent Winners of this Event: Jon Rahm (2017), Brandt Snedeker (2016), Jason Day (2015), Scott Stallings (2014), Tiger Woods (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
2) Strokes Gained Approach
3) Birdie or Better %
4) Par 5 Scoring
5) Bogey Avoidance

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Jon Rahm $11,800 $12,600 $18,000 2 8 0% 0% 0% 1 500 500 500 500
Rickie Fowler $11,400 $12,100 $17,400 7 12 0% 33% 0% 100 72 61 105 6
Hideki Matsuyama $10,800 $12,200 $17,000 5 15 -33% -100% 0% 33 72 75 16 500
Justin Rose $10,600 $12,000 $17,200 6 14 25% 25% 0% 4 72 75 500 500
Tiger Woods $9,700 $8,900 $16,000 647 24 -40% 80% 0% 110 500 500 80 1
Brian Harman $9,600 $11,300 $15,600 20 31 -33% -14% 0% 9 71 32 500 44
Patrick Cantlay $9,500 $10,600 $15,300 36 33 -43% 0% 0% 500 500 500 500 124
Jason Day $9,400 $11,600 $16,400 14 21 38% 0% 0% 100 101 1 2 9
Marc Leishman $9,200 $11,400 $16,200 13 23 33% 0% 0% 20 72 27 2 87
Brandt Snedeker $9,000 $10,500 $15,000 65 39 -10% 0% 8% 9 1 19 121 2
Phil Mickelson $8,900 $10,400 $15,200 46 44 -18% -8% -18% 14 89 108 500 51
Shane Lowry $8,800 $10,200 $14,700 64 50 -42% -21% -6% 33 13 7 500 500
Tony Finau $8,700 $10,900 $15,400 44 33 31% 0% 0% 4 18 24 500 500
Gary Woodland $8,600 $10,100 $14,900 55 45 0% 13% 0% 20 18 45 10 27
Ollie Schniederjans $8,500 $9,400 $14,800 106 47 0% 40% 0% 9 49 500 500 500
Patrick Reed $8,400 $10,200 $14,700 24 52 -13% -29% -13% 500 500 500 500 39
Charles Howell $8,300 $10,000 $15,000 66 41 29% 29% 0% 2 16 5 37 9
Cameron Smith $8,200 $9,100 $14,700 57 49 11% 47% 0% 33 89 128 500 500
Xander Schauffele $8,100 $9,300 $14,500 26 58 -21% 12% -15% 110 143 500 500 500
Grayson Murray $8,000 $9,000 $13,600 113 78 -60% 0% 0% 100 500 500 500 500
Bud Cauley $7,900 $9,500 $14,600 110 54 5% 13% -5% 80 25 500 500 124
Brendan Steele $7,800 $9,700 $14,400 48 58 0% -5% 4% 20 49 45 28 27
Alexander Noren $7,800 $11,100 $14,100 19 69 -27% -250% -8% 500 500 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,700 $8,800 $14,500 37 56 13% 43% -5% 28 18 11 59 87
James Hahn $7,700 $8,800 $13,600 59 81 -38% 11% -3% 91 58 41 121 78
Peter Uihlein $7,700 $9,000 $13,800 56 77 -29% 3% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Russell Knox $7,600 $9,500 $14,000 78 71 -7% -26% 0% 500 500 128 10 500
Jimmy Walker $7,600 $8,600 $12,800 75 115 -85% -9% -6% 100 4 7 83 4
Anirban Lahiri $7,600 $8,900 $12,700 71 117 -89% -46% 0% 500 133 500 500 500
Si Woo Kim $7,600 $9,200 $13,400 40 87 -30% -25% 0% 500 18 500 500 500
Aaron Wise $7,600 $7,800 $12,700 208 130 -107% 36% -10% 71 500 500 500 500
Kevin Streelman $7,500 $8,600 $13,400 175 91 -13% 22% -3% 67 3 500 500 500
Martin Laird $7,500 $8,700 $12,900 131 109 -47% -15% -4% 74 8 7 37 60
J.J. Spaun $7,500 $8,700 $13,200 121 95 -22% 5% -3% 9 500 500 500 500
Chris Kirk $7,500 $8,600 $13,000 176 100 -34% 7% -10% 500 500 32 500 500
John Huh $7,500 $8,000 $12,800 293 114 -53% 28% -4% 76 8 45 113 60
Julian Suri $7,500 $8,200 $11,800 62 226 -150% -36% -16% 500 500 500 500 500
Francesco Molinari $7,400 $10,400 $14,200 22 62 37% -100% 0% 14 122 500 500 500
Kyle Stanley $7,400 $9,300 $14,500 45 53 50% 27% 5% 14 25 67 121 146
J.B. Holmes $7,400 $9,600 $13,900 90 76 21% -36% 0% 33 6 2 23 97
Jamie Lovemark $7,400 $9,100 $13,000 97 106 -21% -53% -18% 80 31 500 28 500
Adam Hadwin $7,400 $9,800 $14,100 52 64 32% -30% 0% 49 63 32 500 500
Scott Stallings $7,400 $7,600 $12,200 302 155 -58% 40% -2% 80 25 2 1 87
Harris English $7,400 $8,200 $12,700 252 101 -16% 25% 14% 14 31 2 500 73
David Lingmerth $7,400 $8,300 $12,500 137 128 -45% 0% 0% 500 500 152 47 97
Ryan Palmer $7,300 $8,500 $12,400 205 133 -26% -18% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Tway $7,300 $8,000 $11,600 201 214 -63% -10% 0% 41 500 500 37 500
Richy Werenski $7,300 $7,900 $11,500 275 229 -76% -4% 0% 20 500 500 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $7,300 $7,700 $11,500 231 236 -80% 10% -2% 80 8 119 74 6
Beau Hossler $7,300 $8,500 $12,700 277 130 -22% -14% -10% 49 500 500 500 500
Smylie Kaufman $7,300 $7,700 $11,200 251 250 -98% 1% 0% 500 25 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $7,300 $7,500 $11,800 280 202 -52% 35% -1% 20 6 53 97 34
Charley Hoffman $7,200 $9,900 $14,200 23 62 53% -32% -4% 54 43 91 7 34
Keegan Bradley $7,200 $8,800 $14,100 73 67 49% 27% -4% 4 89 41 16 124
Bryson DeChambeau $7,200 $9,200 $13,000 95 97 25% -43% -3% 144 500 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $7,200 $8,500 $12,800 270 109 9% 2% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Taylor $7,200 $7,900 $12,000 193 160 -19% 19% 2% 54 127 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $7,200 $8,100 $12,100 217 157 -15% 6% -2% 500 72 119 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,200 $8,000 $11,200 262 261 -79% -40% -4% 138 31 19 113 500
Andrew Landry $7,200 $8,300 $13,000 102 94 30% 33% 5% 500 122 500 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,200 $8,400 $12,800 184 118 2% 0% -11% 4 111 500 500 500
Ben Crane $7,200 $7,600 $11,200 420 246 -68% 11% 2% 110 25 108 68 97
Cameron Tringale $7,200 $7,300 $10,900 339 321 -119% 6% -12% 73 111 69 66 27
Lucas Glover $7,100 $8,700 $13,600 84 82 47% 17% -6% 33 72 24 113 39
Harold Varner $7,100 $8,200 $11,700 153 204 -11% -20% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Seamus Power $7,100 $8,400 $11,900 307 170 -2% -25% 0% 91 500 500 500 500
Billy Horschel $7,100 $9,000 $13,000 70 98 36% -28% -5% 64 8 91 23 39
Sung Kang $7,100 $8,100 $12,100 82 179 -5% -3% -12% 91 101 500 500 500
Trey Mullinax $7,100 $7,900 $11,500 359 229 -27% -4% 0% 49 500 500 500 500
Nate Lashley $7,100 $7,500 $11,000 265 279 -55% 7% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Jones $7,100 $7,700 $11,400 257 254 -45% -1% -7% 500 31 500 43 134
Michael Kim $7,100 $7,400 $10,900 347 261 -48% 19% 9% 54 31 500 132 500
Derek Fathauer $7,100 $7,400 $10,800 350 311 -73% 6% 3% 67 31 500 500 500
Joel Dahmen $7,100 $7,100 $10,300 532 550 -123% -5% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Bill Haas $7,000 $10,000 $13,300 61 94 49% -124% -3% 500 101 19 43 9
Emiliano Grillo $7,000 $8,300 $13,000 77 99 44% 24% -8% 33 111 500 500 500
Rory Sabbatini $7,000 $7,500 $11,300 369 241 -15% 20% 3% 14 151 500 23 500
Talor Gooch $7,000 $7,900 $11,500 209 243 -16% -12% -7% 500 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $7,000 $8,000 $11,700 609 211 1% -9% -4% 67 43 500 47 15
Stephan Jaeger $7,000 $7,500 $10,700 294 365 -69% -19% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Putnam $7,000 $7,300 $10,900 343 282 -33% 19% 4% 500 500 75 500 500
Abraham Ancer $7,000 $7,000 $10,400 280 418 -76% 6% 1% 500 133 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $7,000 $7,600 $10,800 295 325 -56% -17% -2% 129 500 500 500 500
Cody Gribble $7,000 $7,300 $10,800 327 364 -68% -2% -10% 500 500 500 500 500
Dou Zecheng $7,000 $7,000 $10,300 661 -97% -5% -6% 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Loupe $7,000 $7,000 $10,500 701 489 -83% 3% -5% 110 49 500 121 500
Conrad Shindler $7,000 $7,100 $10,400 378 521 -87% -3% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $6,900 $7,700 $12,500 186 118 40% 42% 4% 2 500 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,900 $8,000 $11,000 327 275 -11% -44% -2% 20 49 119 37 500
Retief Goosen $6,900 $7,900 $11,500 386 246 0% -13% -9% 100 111 53 500 500
Keith Mitchell $6,900 $7,400 $10,900 346 289 -17% 13% 1% 500 500 500 500 500
Michael Thompson $6,900 $7,000 $11,600 342 223 11% 45% -4% 14 63 11 500 78
J.J. Henry $6,900 $7,200 $10,300 522 475 -55% -6% 2% 138 43 11 97 39
Brice Garnett $6,900 $7,500 $10,900 222 286 -15% 6% 3% 500 122 91 75 500
Maverick McNealy $6,900 $7,800 $11,300 248 -2% -3% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,900 $7,200 $10,800 431 318 -30% 11% 1% 500 62 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,900 $7,900 $10,500 695 436 -51% -71% -2% 100 500 500 97 500
Kyle Thompson $6,900 $7,200 $10,300 363 586 -64% -13% -4% 500 500 91 500 500
Roberto Diaz $6,900 $7,000 $10,300 542 600 -65% -3% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Denny McCarthy $6,900 $7,000 $10,300 603 621 -67% -4% -6% 500 500 500 500 500
Chesson Hadley $6,800 $8,700 $12,900 79 103 55% -10% 0% 500 58 500 83 500
Stewart Cink $6,800 $8,800 $12,500 141 128 47% -46% 2% 20 89 119 28 116
Luke List $6,800 $8,000 $12,100 147 163 37% 6% -7% 91 89 500 500 68
Nick Watney $6,800 $8,400 $11,900 400 159 39% -19% 5% 91 111 7 59 4
Robert Streb $6,800 $8,000 $12,100 163 148 42% 13% 2% 9 18 500 19 97
Luke Donald $6,800 $8,300 $11,900 149 193 32% -25% -6% 500 500 75 500 500
Kelly Kraft $6,800 $7,900 $11,600 219 214 26% 4% 0% 28 31 500 500 500
Cameron Davis $6,800 $7,700 $11,900 179 180 33% 26% -5% 500 500 500 500 500
Johnson Wagner $6,800 $7,500 $10,700 357 350 -23% -16% 1% 54 72 500 83 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,800 $7,500 $10,900 333 354 -24% -17% -20% 125 101 500 97 141
Sang-Moon Bae $6,800 $7,800 $11,000 296 -4% -21% -9% 500 500 32 28 86
Ted Potter $6,800 $7,200 $10,700 229 389 -27% 0% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Atkins $6,800 $7,000 $10,300 437 600 -44% -3% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Sean O’Hair $6,700 $8,700 $11,700 107 204 38% -73% 0% 500 500 69 500 147
Danny Lee $6,700 $8,200 $11,600 125 223 32% -32% -4% 129 58 32 83 500
Jim Herman $6,700 $7,100 $10,900 191 307 4% 19% -6% 500 49 32 47 51
Padraig Harrington $6,700 $7,700 $11,600 154 214 34% 18% 0% 110 500 128 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,700 $8,200 $11,000 204 300 6% -81% -11% 151 111 91 500 500
Zac Blair $6,700 $7,600 $11,000 412 296 8% -5% -9% 41 101 11 500 500
K.J. Choi $6,700 $7,500 $11,600 656 209 36% 32% 3% 110 2 53 2 9
Rob Oppenheim $6,700 $7,500 $10,900 237 293 9% 3% 0% 500 31 500 500 500
Tom Lovelady $6,700 $7,200 $10,800 366 343 -6% 5% -5% 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Piller $6,700 $7,800 $11,700 212 175 42% 24% 7% 500 63 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,700 $7,700 $11,200 119 254 18% -1% -2% 129 111 49 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $6,700 $7,900 $10,900 258 318 0% -46% -10% 500 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Randolph $6,700 $7,200 $10,800 246 339 -5% 6% -4% 54 500 108 500 500
Rod Pampling $6,700 $7,900 $10,700 271 389 -12% -64% -2% 110 72 500 500 87
Robert Garrigus $6,600 $7,600 $11,500 250 238 34% 16% -4% 129 49 64 28 6
Martin Flores $6,600 $7,500 $11,200 301 238 34% 21% 8% 28 500 53 83 34
JT Poston $6,600 $8,200 $11,400 305 250 29% -54% -5% 129 500 500 500 500
Morgan Hoffmann $6,600 $7,800 $11,000 199 268 24% -11% -1% 77 89 75 16 97
Jonathan Byrd $6,600 $7,400 $10,900 274 314 12% 4% -9% 500 500 91 68 500
Xin-Jun Zhang $6,600 $7,400 $10,500 286 408 -2% -11% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,600 $7,600 $10,800 354 336 8% -18% -3% 500 127 500 138 97
Camilo Villegas $6,600 $7,600 $10,800 371 346 5% -22% -6% 54 89 27 75 97
Sam Burns $6,600 $8,000 $10,800 874 286 21% -49% 12% 500 500 500 500 500
Adam Schenk $6,600 $7,700 $10,600 299 404 -2% -41% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $6,600 $7,200 $10,400 285 504 -9% -9% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $6,600 $7,100 $10,300 506 468 -5% 1% 3% 100 500 75 121 500
Corey Conners $6,600 $8,000 $10,900 632 300 16% -57% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Tyler Duncan $6,500 $7,300 $10,700 346 13% 1% 2% 500 500 500 500 500
David Hearn $6,500 $8,000 $11,000 314 304 23% -60% -14% 500 500 500 113 97
Mac Hughes $6,500 $8,100 $11,000 151 313 21% -72% -17% 54 500 500 500 500
Matt Every $6,500 $7,100 $10,800 722 336 16% 13% -3% 500 72 69 500 60
Lanto Griffin $6,500 $7,000 $10,400 393 529 0% 0% -5% 500 500 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,500 $7,200 $10,400 678 493 2% -8% -3% 138 89 500 500 500
Steve Wheatcroft $6,500 $7,000 $10,300 578 532 -1% -1% -2% 144 500 64 500 500
Will Zalatoris $6,500 $7,500 $10,300 875 -7% -41% -9% 500 500 500 500 500
Ethan Tracy $6,500 $7,000 $10,300 506 700 -6% -6% -7% 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Yun $6,500 $7,000 $10,300 433 796 -6% -6% -8% 500 500 500 500 500
Norman Xiong $6,500 $7,300 $10,300 454 5% -9% 4% 500 500 500 500 500
Michael Block $6,500 $7,000 $10,300 1429 -8% -8% -9% 500 500 138 82 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious