Farmers Insurance Open betting tips
Farmers Insurance Open betting: Top tips
It’s a pretty open betting market with market leaders like Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods all in double figures.
Rahm’s form has been impressive, Jason Day returns as defending champion and McIlroy only faltered at the final hurdle at the Tournament of Champions. All could easily walk away with the goods.
Woods’ Torrey Pines performances, of course, are the stuff of legend. Seven victories and a US Open, in 2008, on the San Diego track has bookies rushing to install him at prices as short at 14/1.
That’s a bit too stingy for me. He hasn’t played since the Hero World Challenge in December and didn’t exactly light up the tournament then – finishing second last.
I think he’s more likely to play his way into this year and, instead, I’m going to opt for a couple of bigger priced players towards the head of affairs to put in a strong challenge.
Marc Leishman (20/1) doesn’t get the headlines of a consistent performer like Justin Rose but his results are just as impressive.
The winner of the CIMB Classic by five shots in October, Leishman was second at the Australian PGA Championship before Christmas and has continued to excel into 2019.
Tied fourth at the Tournament of Champions and tied third in the Sony Open, Leishman looks primed to win again soon. The Farmers Insurance Open, where he has four previous top 10s, could be where it happens.
Charles Howell III is a money machine on the PGA Tour. I fear I may be latching onto him a little late but, at 28/1, there’s no reason to consider he won’t post another strong finish here.
Mid-division at last week’s Desert Classic does make me wonder if he’s about to have a little dip, following his top 10 at the Sony Open and win at the RSM Classic.
But that’s countered by a Torrey Pines record that is an outstanding model of consistency.
Sixth 12 months ago, he was second in 2017, and in this tournament’s various guises has put together a further half dozen top 10s.
He has never missed the cut and has only finished twice out of the top 16 since 2010. He simply has to be on your portfolio and I’d happily back him each-way as well.
Tony Finau was last seen in action when flirting around the top 20 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
I’d have liked to see him blow away the cobwebs before this week – he has previously played at least once before this event in each of his last four full years on tour.
But if there isn’t any rust, a previous form run of 24th, 18th, 4th and 6th at Torrey Pines is hard to ignore.
I won’t be as positive in my staking plan as with some of the others, but there will be couple of quid representing Finau at 20/1.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
