Farmers Insurance Open 2025 Tips: Max Homa leads Jamie’s six for Torrey Pines

The golf tours are starting to hit full-swing again and there is $9.3million available in the prize pool this week along with 500 FedExCup points on the PGA Tour as the players take on the iconic Torrey Pines.

As always, our resident golf tipster Jamie Worsley has put together his comprehensive preview of the event and has picked out six players to consider backing each-way. You can check out who and why below as we delve into his Farmers Insurance Open 2025 Tips...

The PGA Tour continues its West Coast Swing in San Diego this week, with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.  

It is an event that is a world away from the birdie-fest of last week's American Express – where Sepp Straka won his third PGA Tour title with a score of -25 – and one which has an unusual Wednesday start date to avoid clashing with the NFL. 

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The Farmers Insurance Open began life as the San Diego Open in 1952 and excluding the 1958 edition, it has been ever-present on the PGA Tour schedule.  

It is the second of three multi-course events to be staged in California, following last week's American Express and preceding the Pebble Beach Pro-Am next week. Torrey Pines is the host, and players will each play a round at the South Course – a two-time US Open host – and the North Course over the first two days, before the cut-makers then return for two more rounds at the South Course. 

Tiger Woods enjoyed unrivalled dominance in the event with seven victories, which came in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013. In addition, he holds the record for lowest winning score (-22 in 1999) and after hammering the field by eight shots in 2008, he has also recorded the largest margin of victory. 

Phil Mickelson comes next on the list with three wins (1993, 2000 and 2001). Whilst the group of two-time winners includes Arnold Palmer (1957, 1961), Tom Watson (1977, 1980) and most recently, Jason Day (2015, 2018). 

Last five winners: 

• 2024 – Winner: Matthieu Pavon (-13) 

        Runner-up: Nicolai Hojgaard (-12) 

• 2023 – Winner: Max Homa (-13) 

        Runner-up: Keegan Bradley (-11) 

• 2022 – Winner: Luke List (-15, playoff) 

        Runner-up: Will Zalatoris (-15) 

• 2021 – Winner: Patrick Reed (-14) 

     Runners-up: Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Ryan Palmer, Henrik Norlander (-9) 

• 2020 – Winner: Marc Leishman (-15) 

        Runner-up: Jon Rahm (-14) 

Matthieu Pavon was the surprise winner of last year's renewal on debut, in what was just his third start as a PGA Tour member. The Frenchman returns to defend this week. 

THE COURSES 

This week's courses: 

Torrey Pines (South): 7765-yard par 72; 4x par 3s (177-227 yards), 10x par 4s (389-505 yards), 4x par 5s (564-621 yards) 

Torrey Pines (North): 7258-yard par 72; 4x par 3s (202-241 yards), 10x par 4s (322-495 yards), 4x par 5s (520-556 yards) 

Perched atop cliffs and offering some spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, each course at Torrey Pines opened for play in 1957 and was originally designed by William Bell. However, they have gone through multiple renovations in the previous two decades. 

Rees Jones made substantial changes to the South Course in 2001, which included the recontouring of all greens, fairway bunkers being moved to more strategic positions and around 500 yards added in length. He then returned to make adjustments in 2019 prior to the 2021 US Open. 

Tom Weiskopf completed an overhaul of the North Course in 2016. This involved the removal of bunkers by around a third, the increase in size of the greens and the creation of a new drivable par 4. 

These courses make the Farmers Insurance Open one of the most demanding tests on the PGA Tour, averaging a winning score of -12.9 over the last 10 renewals. Although, it is the South Course that provides the bulk of that difficulty and with three out of four rounds played there, it should be our main focus.  

That isn't to say the North Course has no bearing on the result. It's a much easier, shorter course, with larger and slower bentgrass greens, whilst each of its par 5s are gettable and it also possesses two drivable par 4s. Few manage to win this without at least shooting a round in the 60s there. 

The South Course is open and largely exposed, with a limited numbers of trees sat aside the fairways. The ground often slopes back towards the ocean and there are frequent, mostly mild elevation changes, which are especially prevalent on the par 3s, as all play downhill. 

Its fairways are narrow and rank as the fourth-toughest to find on the PGA Tour. With intelligently placed bunkers littering the landing areas and gnarly, 4-inch-thick kikuya-based rough for protection, it can offer up a punishing test of driving. 

The firm, sloping poa annua greens are small at an average of 5000 sq. ft. and are regularly positioned at an angle to the fairway. The notoriously bumpy nature of poa later in the day helps in making these surfaces some of the most testing to putt on the PGA Tour, ranking fifth in putting difficulty. 

Water comes into play on just one hole across the two courses – the 570-yard par 5 18th at the South Course. It protects the front of this dramatically sloped putting surface and with round four's precarious pin position, it ensures drama right until the last putt is holed. 

THE WEATHER 

Due to its location and generally open nature, strong winds can cause havoc at Torrey Pines. However, it doesn't look like being much of a feature, this week. 

The players are set to be welcomed by pleasantly clear and bright conditions over the first three rounds, accompanied by a gentle 8mph breeze. It is forecast to be a little more overcast and slightly windier in Saturday's final round, though not enough to cause any problems. 

KEY STATS 

• SG: Off-the-Tee/Driving Distance 

The South Course's major championship test is one that requires quality throughout the bag. Although, when we consider that mammoth length, it's no surprise that long and high-class drivers enjoy great success here. 

Looking at last year, we find runner-up Nicolai Hojgaard ranking 2nd off-the-tee and 7th in driving distance. Of the top 12 there, nine ranked inside the top 25 in driving distance and seven were top 25 OTT. 

Big-hitting Luke List won in 2022 and ranked top 25 OTT. Will Zalatoris finished 2nd, ranking 8th both in driving distance and OTT, whilst Jon Rahm in 3rd was 2nd OTT and 6th in driving distance. 

Seven of the top nine ranked inside the top 25 in driving distance in 2021; Marc Leishman led home a leaderboard that included strong drivers such as Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy in 2020; whilst in 2019, each of the top seven ranked inside the top 25 OTT, and six were top 25 in driving distance. 

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation/Proximity from 150-200 yards 

Top-quality iron play is equally important, especially with the mid-long irons, with that 150-200yd range accounting for over a third of approaches in each of the last five years. 

Last year's winner, Matthieu Pavon ranked 3rd in approach and 7th in greens-in-regulation, with eight of the top 12 ranking top 20 for GIR. 

Max Homa was electric in each of these areas in 2023, ranking 1st in approach and 4th in GIR. We also had 3rd-place finisher, Collin Morikawa ranking 3rd in approach and 5th in GIR, whilst all of the top six ranked at least 12th in approach. 

Luke List ranked 4th in approach and 7th in GIR in 2022, with runner-up, Will Zalatoris even more impressive in each area, ranking 1st in approach and 5th in GIR. 

Five of the top eight ranked inside the top six in approach in 2020 and it was a similar story in 2019, with all of the top four ranking 6th or better in approach.  

• SG: Putting (poa annua) 

With the challenges that these greens pose, a strong putting week has often been a necessity to contend. 

Matthieu Pavon ranked 5th in putting when winning last year, whilst Nate Lashley in 3rd ranked 6th. 

Max Homa was a solid 9th on the greens in 2023, as he beat the leading putter in the field that week, Keegan Bradley into 2nd. 

Luke List ranked 8th when taking the title in 2022; Patrick Reed was 10th with the putter in 2021; whilst the top two in 2020, Marc Leishman and Jon Rahm, also finished 1st and 2nd in the putting standings. 

• Par 5 Scoring 

Lastly, the par 5s across each course serve up the best birdie chances and it is especially important to take advantage of them at the South Course, where clear scoring opportunities are more rare. 

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES) 

Genesis Invitational (Riviera Country Club) 

Although looking very different, there are many similarities between Riviera and this week's host venue. Both venues are based in California and use poa annua on the putting surfaces and kikuyu rough.  

They are of comparable difficulty off the tee, ranking closely in driving accuracy and much like Torrey Pines, Riviera necessitates players to be dialled in with the mid-long irons, with approaches from 150-200yds the most prevalent. 

Notable correlating form: 

Max Homa: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Genesis (1st, 2nd) 

Luke List: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Genesis (2nd) 

Scott Stallings: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 2nd) / Genesis (4th) 

Marc Leishman: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 2nd, 2nd) / Genesis (4th, 5th) 

Charles Howell III: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 2nd, 2nd) / Genesis (1st) 

J.B. Holmes: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th) / Genesis (1st) 

Tony Finau: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th) / Genesis (2nd, 2nd) 

Will Zalatoris: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Genesis (2nd, 4th) 

Keegan Bradley: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th, 5th) / Genesis (2nd, 4th) 

Viktor Hovland: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Genesis (4th, 5th) 

Jimmy Walker: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th, 4th) / Genesis (4th, 4th) 

Memorial Tournament (Muirfield Village) 

Muirfield Village somewhat mimics the test of major championship golf. It's a reasonably long course, with small, firm greens and punishing rough, and possesses a similar challenge on approach to Torrey Pines, with the long irons important. 

Notable correlating form: 

Scott Stallings: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 2nd) / Memorial (4th) 

Marc Leishman: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 2nd, 2nd) / Memorial (5th, 5th) 

Max Homa: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Memorial (5th, 6th) 

Viktor Hovland: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Memorial (1st, 3rd) 

Ryan Palmer: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 2nd) / Memorial (2nd) 

Kyle Stanley: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Memorial (2nd, 3rd) 

Will Zalatoris: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Memorial (5th) 

Kevin Streelman: 

Farmers Insurance Open (3rd) / Memorial (4th) 

Sahith Theegala: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Memorial (5th) 

Procore Championship (Silverado Resort – North Course) 

Back to California now with the Procore Championship at Silverado's North Course. Due to its narrow fairways and small poa annua greens, many players have transferred form between these two events. 

Notable correlating form: 

Max Homa: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Procore (1st, 1st) 

Brandt Snedeker: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 1st) / Procore (2nd) 

Marc Leishman: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 2nd, 2nd) / Procore (3rd, 4th) 

Luke List: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Procore (4th) 

Charles Howell III: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 2nd, 2nd) / Procore (4th) 

Tony Finau: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th) / Procore (2nd) 

Kevin Streelman: 

Farmers Insurance Open (3rd) / Procore (3rd) 

Talor Gooch: 

Farmers Insurance Open (3rd) / Procore (4th) 

Sahith Theegala: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Procore (1st) 

Sungjae Im: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th, 6th) / Procore (4th) 

Sam Ryder: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Procore (4th) 

Patrick Rodgers: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Procore (6th, 6th) 

Wells Fargo Championship (Quail Hollow Club) 

Quail Hollow is another lengthy major championship test and possessing a similar level of difficulty in most aspects as here at Torrey Pines, it should act as a good comp this week. 

Notable correlating form: 

Max Homa: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Wells Fargo (1st) 

Luke List: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st) / Wells Fargo (6th, 9th) 

J.B. Holmes: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th) / Wells Fargo (1st) 

Viktor Hovland: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Wells Fargo (3rd) 

Harris English: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Wells Fargo (3rd) 

Patrick Rodgers: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Wells Fargo (2nd) 

Sungjae Im: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th, 6th) / Wells Fargo (4th, 8th) 

D.A. Points: 

Farmers Insurance Open (5th, 8th, 9th) / Wells Fargo (2nd) 

Texas Open (TPC San Antonio) 

I'm going to finish with two events in Texas that serve up demanding tee-to-green tests, the first of which is the Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. It ranks closely to the Farmers Insurance Open in most ball-striking areas and with approaches from 175yds+ common, the long game has to be in great shape to contend. 

Notable correlating form: 

Brandt Snedeker: 

Farmers Insurance Open (1st, 1st) / Texas (4th, 6th) 

Tony Finau: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th) / Texas (3rd) 

Charles Howell III: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 2nd, 2nd) / Texas (4th) 

Ryan Palmer: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 2nd) / Texas (4th, 6th, 6th) 

Cameron Tringale: 

Farmers Insurance Open (3rd, 4th) / Texas (5th, 8th, 9th) 

Jimmy Walker: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th, 4th) / Texas (1st, 3rd, 4th) 

Sam Ryder: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Texas (3rd) 

Patrick Rodgers: 

Farmers Insurance Open (4th) / Texas (5th) 

John Huh: 

Farmers Insurance Open (6th, 8th) / Texas (2nd) 

Beau Hossler: 

Farmers Insurance Open (6th, 9th) / Texas (4th) 

Houston Open (Memorial Park Golf Course) 

Memorial Park is a similarly open course on which scoring has typically been difficult. It ranks closely to Torrey Pines in most areas from tee-to-green and is another course where quality with the long irons carries more weight. 

Notable correlating form: 

Tony Finau: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd, 4th) / Houston (1st, 2nd) 

Alex Noren: 

Farmers Insurance Open (2nd) / Houston (4th) 

Stephan Jaeger: 

Farmers Insurance Open (3rd) / Houston (1st) 

Talor Gooch: 

Farmers Insurance Open (3rd) / Houston (4th) 

Aaron Rai: 

Farmers Insurance Open (6th) / Houston (7th, 7th) 

THE FIELD 

Hideki Matsuyama is the top-ranked player in the field at #4, with #6 Ludvig Aberg the only other man from the top 10 in attendance.  

We have 19 of the world's top 50 in total, which includes our defending champion, Matthieu Pavon. The Frenchman is one of six formers winners in the field, joined by Max Homa (2023), Luke List (2022), Justin Rose (2019), Jason Day, (2018, 2015) and Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012). 

Irishman, Shane Lowry gets his PGA Tour season underway this week; as do Thriston Lawrence and Niklas Norgaard, who both earned their cards via the DP World Tour last season; whilst the top two amateurs in the world will be hoping to impress on this bigger stage, in the shape of #1 Luke Clanton and #2 Jackson Koivun. 

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Hideki Matsuyama 10/1, Ludvig Aberg 10/1, Sungjae Im 20/1, Tony Finau 20/1, Keegan Bradley 22/1, Will Zalatoris 25/1, Max Greyserman 25/1 

One of the weaker Farmers Insurance Open fields in recent years creates a more open feel to the event. Combined with the two-course rotation, which has the potential to throw up a draw bias, I've not been tempted enough by any of those at the very top of the betting, for all Will Zalatoris was strongly considered due to his strong course and comp course form. 

However, just outside of those guys is a former winner of this event who has started the year in good ball-striking form, Max Homa, and he goes in as the headline selection. 

Max Homa 

After a positive start to 2024, which included a 3rd-place finish in The Masters, last year was ultimately one of disappointment for Homa. He finished the year by recording just one top 20 across his last nine starts, which came in the Nedbank Challenge in his final event of the year. 

He did hit the ball better in South Africa and continuing that theme on his first start of 2025 in The Sentry, ranking 4th in greens-in-regulation and 16th in ball-striking on his way to a 26th-place finish, he looks to have turned a corner. 

The quality and reliability of the California man's ball-striking played a huge part in him becoming a six-time PGA Tour winner. The most recent of those wins came here at Torrey Pines in 2023, where we saw evidence of that superb ball-striking, as he ranked 1st in approach and 4th in GIR. 

That victory is part of a strong recent record in this event, as he recorded a 9th-place finish in 2020, an 18th-place finish in 2021 and he was 13th last year, with his usual expertise on the greens coming to the fore on these familiar poa annua surfaces.  

Wins at Riviera and Quail Hollow only strengthen Homa's case on these major-standard courses and having also recorded two wins in the Procore Championship, he has a batch of comp form to match anyone in the field. 

Beau Hossler 

Beau Hossler continues to knock on the door for that breakthrough PGA Tour win and after enjoying a positive start to the season in La Quinta, where he was among the best drivers in the field at the Stadium Course, I'm taking him to finally enter the PGA Tour winner's circle this week. 

2024 was a very typical year for Hossler. He started well on the West Coast, finishing 6th here at Torrey Pines and top 25 at Pebble Beach and Riviera, before largely going missing when the tour headed east. Although, he did produce one week of quality in that middle part of the year, which came courtesy of a 4th-place finish in the Myrtle Beach Classic.  

Much like the previous year, he rediscovered his form in the fall events, recording five top-25 finishes over his final seven starts, which included a runner-up finish in the Sanderson Farms Championship. He continued that into the new year, finishing 12th in last week's AmEx, which was a big improvement on how he's started in previous years. 

The driver was his biggest weapon there, as he ranked 3rd in the field off-the-tee. As an excellent putter and strong par 5 player, ranking top 25 in each area, he has many of the necessary skills to contend in this event. 

Hossler's familiarity with Torrey Pines goes back to his junior days, as he recorded 1st and 2nd-place finishes across the 2011 and 2012 Junior World Golf Championships at the North Course. That comfort with the venue translated to relative success in this event, as he made his first four cuts, including a 9th-place finish in 2020 and after missing his following three, he returned to produce his best finish yet in the event last year, finishing 6th. If he can replicate that driving performance of last week, he'd have every chance of improving further this year. 

Doug Ghim 

As a player lacking in power, Doug Ghim is somewhat of an outlier this week. However, he compensates for that with an excellent long iron game and possessing a good record here, where his unreliable putter seems to behave much better, he can contend for a first tour win. 

Ghim played some of the best golf of his career in 2024, which resulted in nine top-25 finishes across the year. The best of those efforts came in the Shriners Open on his fifth-last start of the campaign, where he came close to a first win when finishing 2nd to J.T. Poston. 

He was a little rusty when finishing 72nd on his seasonal debut in the Sony Open but he improved last week, finishing 21st. A result that was predominantly aided by some quality approach play. 

The key to his success last year was the long game. Indeed, it was his best ball-striking year since joining the PGA Tour, ranking 4th in GIR, 8th in approach and 20th off-the-tee. When we dive a little deeper into that approach play, we find a player in the zone from mid-long range, ranking 7th in proximity from 150-175yds, 10th from 175-200yds and 1st from 225-250yds. 

Ghim has played in this event on six occasions, making four cuts and recording two top 20s, with his highest finish coming when 13th last year. He's gained strokes on the greens in five of those six starts, and with his ability to putt poa also on show at Silverado, we can be confident he has the assets to bely his lack of length. 

Kevin Yu 

Kevin Yu won his first PGA Tour title in the FedExCup Fall at the end of 2024 and hitting the ball well on his first two starts this year, this excellent driver can double his tally fairly swiftly. 

Yu was inconsistent last year but his form figures were dotted with clear quality. He recorded five top-6 finishes, the last of which was a victory in the Sanderson Farms Championship on his fifth-last start of the campaign. 

2025 began with a 44th-place finish in The Sentry, where he drove it well but struggled in approach and on the greens. He had both of those areas firing last week in his one round at the Stadium Course, though failed to capitalise at the two easier courses and narrowly missed the third-round cut by one. 

This long hitter has been one of the best drivers on tour in recent years and ranked 12th off-the-tee in 2024. He also improved the quality of his iron play, ranking 10th in GIR, 36th in approach and I'm particularly taken by his ranking from 175-200yds, for which he ranked 18th. Add this long game prowess to his top-10 ranking in par 5 scoring and we find a player who has the ability to take it to this setup. 

Yu is another player who appeared in the Junior World Golf Championship here, finishing 2nd in 2014 and 6th in 2015. After missing the cut and finishing 44th on his first two starts in the Farmers Insurance Open, Yu finally transferred that ability to perform at the course to the pro ranks last year, taking the first-round lead with an excellent 64 at the North Course before eventually finishing 6th. 

Taylor Moore 

After a poor start to the year in Hawaii, Taylor Moore looked to have all areas of his game firing in last week's AmEx. As a player who has often shown his best on more challenging setups, including his solo tour win in the 2023 Valspar Championship, he can build on his previous start by claiming a second tour win in San Diego. 

Moore wasn't quite as impressive last year as he had been in 2023, though he still enjoyed a solid year. He recorded eight top-25 finishes, including a best of 2nd in the Houston Open and he also hit the top 20 in each of the first two majors of the year: The Masters and PGA Championship. 

He disappointed on his first start of the year in the Sony Open, missing the cut by seven with each area of his game offering little optimism. The turnaround was sharp, as he shot four rounds in the 60s to finish 7th last week and gained strokes right through his game. 

The driver was the key to any success he had last year, ranking 46th and he was also a strong 55th in putting. His approach play regressed from the previous season, but he hit his irons well last week and I'm hoping he'll maintain that here, as a player who is typically strongest with his long irons. 

Moore has played here on three occasions, recording a commendable best of 11th in 2023. That runner-up finish in Houston, along with possessing solid form figures in the Genesis Open and Wells Fargo Championship, is part of a wider record of him looking at home when the scoring is that little bit tougher. 

Jesper Svensson 

We had two graduates from the DP World Tour fighting it out at the top of the leaderboard in last year's renewal and in the shape of big-hitting Swede, Jesper Svensson, we could have a similar story emerging come Saturday. 

Svensson's rise up the golfing landscape has been rapid in recent years. At the start of 2023 he was still teeing it up on the Nordic Golf League (NGL), but a victory on the Challenge Tour in May that year, along with a trio of runner-up finishes, saw him graduate to the DPWT for the 2023/24 season. 

He looked at home right away at that heightened level, finishing 2nd in the South African Open on his second start of that new season. After adding another runner-up finish in Bahrain just four starts later, it didn't take him long to use those narrow defeats as inspiration, as he won the Singapore Classic in March. 

A couple more top 5s in the Czech and British Masters all but guaranteed he'd earn one of those 10 PGA Tour cards that were up for grabs, completing an incredible ascent from the NGL to the PGA Tour in less than two years. 

He instantly made an impact on the PGA Tour, finishing 10th in the Sony Open on his first start of the year, where he was typically strong on the greens and with driver. Although he followed that with a missed cut last week, he hit the ball well at the Stadium Course and clearly arrives at this more suitable setup in great spirits. 

Svensson will make his debut in the Farmers Insurance Open, but he should like what he finds. He ranked 7th in driving distance, 7th in par 5 scoring and top 40 in both putting and driving on the DPWT last season, whilst the majority of his better performances came on lengthier, generally open layouts where he could let fly with driver. His game looks ideally suited to PGA Tour golf and he can prove that in the ultimate way by winning this week.