Farmers Insurance Open betting tips
The details
Venue: Torrey Pines, San Diego, California, USA
Date: January 24-27, 2019
Course stats: South, par 72, 7,698
Course summary: The field play a round on both the North and South course over the first two days, before the latter hosts the weekend’s action. The par-5 18th on the South provides the opportunity for a thrilling finish. At 570-yards, it is reachable in two but the second shot needs to be executed properly otherwise a pond in front of the green awaits.
Purse: $7.1 million
Defending champion: Jason Day (-10, at the sixth extra hole following a three-way playoff with Alex Noren and Ryan Palmer)
Weather forecast: Temperatures between 15 and 23 degrees during the week with the conditions expected to be overcast and mild.
TV coverage
Thursday: Sky Sports Golf, featured groups at 4.15pm and main coverage at 8pm
Friday: Sky Sports Golf, featured groups at 4.15pm and main coverage at 8p
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf, 7pm
Sunday: Sky Sports Golf, 6pm
Farmers Insurance Open betting tips: Each-way tips
Think of JB Holmes (60/1) at this tournament and the controversy of 12 months ago is the first thing that comes to mind.
Needing an eagle at the final hole to pip Jason Day, the American spent more than four minutes mulling over whether to go for the green in two before eventually laying up.
That almost certainly disrupted Alex Noren and Ryan Palmer, who both had their own chances to win, and the 36-year-old was rightly criticised.
But it shouldn’t cloud our decisions when it comes to this year’s event and Holmes’ price looks large given his past performances.
Finishes of 4th, 6th and 2nd over the past three years is stellar by any stretch and any similar repeat of that – with firms offering six and seven places – would prove profitable.
Holmes hasn’t played for more than two months, last finishing 48th at the Mayakoba Classic, and that is a concern.
But if he starts quickly, and builds on the top 10 secured at the Safeway Open and the top 20 at the CIMB Classic during the Fall Series, he could have a decent week.
Brandt Snedeker (50/1) was last seen posting a top 20 at the Sony Open and the American has improved in each of his two outings in 2019.
A winner at the Wyndham Championship last August, and second after missing out in a playoff at the Safeway Open, the 38-year-old has decent form in the bank.
He’s got very good memories as well of the Farmers Insurance Open. The victor in 2012 and 2016, he also has also recorded six further top 10s.
With the likes of Rory, Tiger and Rahm hogging money at the top of the market, there might be an opportunity to capitalise elsewhere. If Snedeker comes out with a hot putter his odds may look very foolish indeed.
So those are Steve’s each-way selections. Find out who he thinks could lift the trophy on the next page…
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.
