On the Tee: Farmers Insurance Open
|
|
| Bubba Watson cradles his winner's surfboard and trophy last Jan. 30 at Torrey Pines. (US Presswire) |
Everything you need to know about the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
| Nuts and bolts |
Tee times/leaderboard | Hole-by-hole | Past champions | Expert Picks
| Defending the throne |
We kept expecting the Watson wobble, but this time, he did just the opposite. At too many events to catalogue over the years, left-handed hammer Bubba Watson had climbed into Sunday contention only to hit far too many wild shots down the stretch. Even after he won in 2010 at the Travelers event, he was a bit shaky coming home. So last year at Torrey Pines, Watson made huge, clutch putts at the last two holes to fend off hometown man Phil Mickelson, who theatrically had his caddie tend the pin while trying to hole a tying eagle shot from 72 yards away. It represented Watson's second win, and he added another in New Orleans a few weeks later to ascend to star status. He wasn't the lefty most folks thought would win, since Mickelson used to play high-school matches on the South course. "It showed I can do it," Watson said afterward. "I've done it twice now. I'm only 50 behind Phil and about 80 behind Tiger. So they better watch out."
| Venue and you |
Torrey Pines is one of the nation's most famous public tracks, but that doesn't mean you can just show up and play. Far from it -- and you better bring a credit card. Times are usually booked a week or so in advance and a non-refundable booking fee is charged. In one of the most outrageous aftereffects of the 2008 U.S. Open being staged at the venue, which was rebuilt beforehand, green fees for non-residents have skied to an astounding $183 for the South Course. Worse, on Friday through Sunday, the fee for non-natives is hiked to $229. They even overcharge non-residents for the utterly nondescript North Course ($100 and $125 on weekends). What a pity. Small wonder the game is dying in the United States. For a full listing of the hijacking options, see here: www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/golf/torreypines/reservations/fees.shtml
| Track and field |
In most respects, Torrey Pines has marked one of the many hazy starting points for the new season annually. Tiger Woods and Mickelson have traditionally started their seasons here, and this week marks the first time in 2012 that free network (CBS) will handle weekend broadcast duties. Even with Woods collecting a European Tour appearance fee in Abu Dhabi, the Torrey field is about the same as it ever was. The number of players ranked in the world top 15 has climbed from two to three since last year, though the number of top-50 players entered this week has dropped from 16 to 15. Everybody in the field alternates on the North and South courses over the first two days, then weekend play is staged solely at the South, the longest course on tour at 7,568 yards, though the tour never moves its tees all the way back.
| Three whacks from short range |
• With the preponderance of the world's top players in Europe, the field includes exactly one player ranked in the world top 10, No. 8 Dustin Johnson, who withdrew last week in Palm Springs with a bad back. Hometown boy Mickelson has slumped to 15th in the world. Otherwise, 2009 winner Nick Watney, at No. 12, is the only other top-15 player entered. Last year, Farmers ranked a fairly solid No. 31 in world rankings points awarded among all global events played, a number that includes majors and WGC events.
• He's obviously not in San Diego, but some of this is worth remembering and digesting. After an uptick late in the 2010 silly season, Tiger Woods skidded home at T44 at his Torrey opener last year, ending a five-start winning streak on the course. He'd never finished outside the top 10 at Torrey, and it was the worst start to his golf season since he turned pro. All food for thought as Woods took an appearance fee to play on the European Tour this week, his official 2012 opener. For whatever reason, the PGA Tour green-lighted Woods to go, even though he had not played in the compulsory 15 events last year (or in 2010, either) in order to qualify for a so-called competing-event release on another tour. Woods will start his U.S. season in two weeks at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which he hasn't played in 10 years.
• San Diego's latest can't-miss kid, former USC star Jamie Lovemark, is in the field and hoping to put the disaster of his first rookie season behind him. His first rookie season? After winning the Nationwide Tour player of the year award in 2010 to earn a promotion to the PGA circuit, Lovemark had back issues for most of last season and barely played. So, technically, as he plays on a medical extension, he's a rookie all over again this year because he only made a few starts. Lovemark twice made the cut in this event while still a college amateur.
| Odds and evens |
Odds on winning, via Golfodds.com and the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino:
Odds on winning, via Golfodds.com and the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino: Phil Mickelson 15/1, Nick Watney 15/1, Hunter Mahan 20/1, Rickie Fowler 25/1, Bubba Watson 25/1, Brandt Snedeker 25/1, Ben Crane 25/1, Dustin Johnson 25/1, Charles Howell 25/1, Keegan Bradley 30/1, Bill Haas 30/1, Justin Rose 30/1, Geoff Ogilvy 30/1, Ernie Els 30/1, Camilo Villegas 30/1.
