This Week’s PGA Tour Predictions!
The 2015 Farmers Insurance Open comes our way from Torrey Pines this week – a quality field will try to unseat Scott Stallings as the Pros take to Torrey Pines South and North courses with the South Course hosting all weekend action.
Bet On The 2015 Farmers Insurance Open
When: February 5 – 8, 2015
Golf Course: Torrey Pines – La Jolla, California
Purse: $6,100,000 (Winner Share – $1,098,000)
Defending Champion: Scott Stallings
2015 Farmers Insurance Open Favorites:
***2015 BONUSES***
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Typically Torrey Pines is a track tat Tiger Woods owns (eight wins in this event plus the 2008 US Open when it was staged here) but I don’t think we can count on that this upcoming week.
Power is essential – Torrey Pines South (where the combatants will play three of their four rounds) is long – it is still the longest layout that the Pros will play this year – 7,698 yards and it is was the third hardest par 72 on TOUR last year. Fairways are notoriously tough to hit, greens are hard to hit in regulation, the rough is almost unfairly long and scrambling stats have traditionally been miserable at this venue.
A tremendous all around game is required this week on a track that had a scoring average of 73.979 last year. A hot putter is also essential here on Torrey Pines’ ball striking layout.
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Who should we be keeping an eye on? Let’s break it down.
Jimmy Walker 12/1
Pretty hard to argue with Walker as the favorite – he was simply scorching before taking a bit of time off. He is coming off a nine stroke win at Waialae which followed a playoff loss at the Hyundai – he has the perfect attributes to contend here – lengths off the tee, accuracy and a pretty good darn putter. Walker had top 10 finishes at Torrey Pines in 2012 and 2013 but missed the cut last year!
Jordan Spieth 12/1
Looked good in his only appearance here last year – he led after 36 holes before crumbling on the weekend. He was T7 last week and seems to be ramping up for a solid season. Spieth has back-to-back top-seven finishes, including a win at the Hero Challenge.
Jason Day 14/1
Defending runner-up in this tournament and ninth place finisher in 2013 obviously has the game to make another run this year –length off the tee and a terrific all-around game. His current form isn’t anything to sneeze at either – a T3 at Kapalua followed a T17 at the Sony in his first start of the year. Day has cracked the top-17 in all three of his tournament appearances this year, including two top-fives.
2015 Farmers Insurance Open Contenders:
Hideki Matsuyama 20/1
Matsuyama has made the cut in all eight of his tournament appearances this year, including three top-5 finishes. He is also 10th on the Tour in Total Driving, 14th in Putting and 24th in Greens Hit in Regulation. The 22-year-old is primed for another big outing this week. He finished T2 last week and has an incredible four top 3s in his last eight starts.
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He was T16 here last year and enters as the hottest guy on TOUR – other than Jimmy Walker.
Graham DeLaet 25/1
I have been pumping his tires for a year now – he absolutely has to win sometime – doesn’t he? He is coming off a good T7 at the Waste Management and returns to Torrey Pines where he has had some success – a T2 last year and a T9 in 2013. Consistently one of the best ball strikers on the planet, DeLaet absolutely has to be in the conversation this week.
Brandt Snedeker 25/1
2012 winner here, Sneds has a terrific all-around game – something that is absolutely essential for success on this track. He led the field last week in scrambling – something that will come in handy. He should have success again this week on tricky greens that play right into his hands. Not only has Snedeker won here, he also has two T2s and a third place finish. Course history and present form have Brandt firmly on the radar this week.
Mark Leishman 30/1
Will play his favorite course by far. He has two T2s here in 2010 and 2014 and also finished T9 in 2011. The last time we saw him was at the Sony where he shot a 62 but wound up 37th. Torrey Pines plays like a Major and his last two appearances on the biggest stages have been impressive – a 4th Augusta and a 5th Royal Liverpool. Leishman is a good driver of the golf ball – just don’t know about his putting.
2015 Farmers Insurance Open Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Martin Laird 50/1
Has six top 20s in his last eight starts and should have won last week before falling apart on Sunday at TPC Scottsdale. If he can keep his head screwed on, Leishman could do some damage.
KJ Choi 66/1
As mentioned Torrey Pines is a Major-calibre track and Choi always seems to show up on the toughest courses. Add in the fact that he finished T22 last week and has had great success here and Choi looks like good value. He was T2 here last year, T9 in 2013, T29 in 2011 and T15 in 2010. He is the solid, but unspectacular guy that could sneak up on everyone this week.
Russell Knox 75/1
T15 at WMPO is second top 15 in three starts in 2015. He can nail the ball as evidenced by his T10 here last year
2015 Farmers Insurance Open Picks:
The pick this week is Jason Day at 14/1 odds. Torrey Pines is set up like a Major and he has been remarkably consistent against the best fields. He has a perfect set of skill and will better his runner-up finish from last year.
The Sleeper is KJ Choi at 66/1 for largely the same reasons. He isn’t afraid of top competition and he has a very good course history.
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