The PGA Tour heads to Torrey Pines for the 2012 Farmers Insurance Open. Three time winner of this event, Phil Mickelson, will have all eyes on him as he looks for career victory number 40 on the PGA Tour. A win here will mean defeating 2011 winner Bubba Watson who is king of the tournaments with insurance sponsors.
(Bubba Watson won here in 2011. Photo: Zimbio)
It's not the strongest field we have seen for this PGA Tour event but Dustin Johnson will play after withdrawing from last weeks Humana Challenge with back issues. Johnson is the only player in the field in top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
There are four previous champions of this event in the field: Bubba Watson (2011), Ben Crane (2010), Nick Watney (2009), and Phil Mickelson (1993, 2000, 2001). As mentioned above, Watson is the king of insurance sponsored tournament. His three career victories have all been sponsored by insurance companies including Farmers, Travelers and Zurich.
Ben Crane followed up his 2010 victory here with a win in 2011 at the McGladrey Classic and will look to make it three wins in three years this week. In 2012 he finished in the top 10 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and last weeks Humana Challenge.
Nick Watney is chasing career victory number five on the PGA Tour. Watney had two wins last year but missed the cut at the British Open and US Open while struggling at The Masters. This will be his first full field event of 2012.
Phil Mickelson has won here three times and other than the Masters, I can't think of a better place for him to earn career victory number 40. He's said he is not playing in the upcoming WGC event which leads me to believe he's going to focus on this event a little more.
Three Groups To Watch At the Farmers Insurance Open
3. Bill Haas, Keegan Bradley & Bubba Watson: A great group that could produce our winner this week. Keegan Bradley is looking to add to his two wins last year on the PGA Tour while Bill Haas can add to his $10 million FedEx Cup money. Watson is the defending champion and gets a second look because of it.
2. Dustin Johnson, Gary Woodland & Camilo Villegas: I like watching "DJ" which is why I want to keep an eye on this group. He withdrew last week and I'm hoping we get to see him play four rounds this week. Villegas came out strong last week which is a great sign. Hopefully he can put a full event together this week and challenge for the title on Sunday. Keep an eye on Gary Woodland, I expect him to win in 2012.
1. Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson & Hunter Mahan: The obvious choice for group to watch. Watney and Mickelson both favorites to do well here while Hunter Mahan makes his 2012 debut. He won twice in 2010 and missed out on the winners circle in 2011.
#BeatTheHost: Farmers Insurance Open
- Sponsor: Pro Compression Athletic Performance Socks (@procompression)
- Guest: Nick Watney (@Jamies18)
- Hosts Picks: Ben Crane (@999Places) & Bubba Watson (@WAMGolfs)