Farmers Insurance Open 2026 Betting Tips: English to go back-to-back at Torrey Pines?

It was business as usual on the PGA Tour at last week’s American Express in La Quinta, where Scottie Scheffler produced a dominant final-round display to run out a comfortable four-shot winner on his 2026 debut.

The Tour now heads west to Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open. Alongside the seasonal reappearance of San Diego native Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka will tee it up on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2022, having announced his return to the circuit just weeks after departing LIV at the end of 2025.

Our resident golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with five more each-way picks this week, so let's check out his Farmers Insurance Open 2026 Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights...

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*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest Farmers Insurance Open Odds over on betfred.com

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Farmers Insurance Open debuted on the PGA Tour in 1952, and with the exception of 1958, it has been a mainstay on the PGA Tour calendar.

Torrey Pines has hosted proceedings exclusively since 1968, with three rounds played at the South Course – a two-time U.S. Open host – and just one at the less-fearsome North Course.

This is one of many events with which Tiger Woods became synonymous, winning it a record seven times – in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013. He also holds the records for the lowest winning total (-22 in 1999) and the widest margin of victory (eight strokes in 2008).

Phil Mickelson won it on three occasions (1993, 2000, 2001), while the seven-man list of two-time winners includes Arnold Palmer (1957, 1961), Tom Watson (1977, 1980), and most recently, Jason Day (2015, 2018).

Last five winners:

• 2025

Winner: Harris English (-8)

Runner-up: Sam Stevens (-7)

• 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)

Harris English converted a 54-hole lead to record his fifth PGA Tour win last year, denying a charging Sam Stevens his breakthrough success. He returns to defend this week, and he will become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2008 to claim back-to-back triumphs if he comes out on top.

THE COURSES

• Original architect / Year opened:
  • Torrey Pines (South): William Bell / 1957
  • Torrey Pines (North): William Bell / 1957
• Latest renovations:
  • Torrey Pines (South): Rees Jones recontoured greens, moved bunkers, and added 500 yards in 2001, before returning to make further changes prior to the 2019 U.S. Open
  • Torrey Pines (North): Tom Weiskopf made extensive changes in 2016 – removing a third of all bunkers, increasing green sizes, and creating a new drivable par 4 (7^th hole)
• Previous tournaments: Genesis Invitational (2025), U.S. Open (2021, 2008) – both at the South Course
• Par / Yardage:
  • Torrey Pines (South): Par 72 / 7765 yards
  • Torrey Pines (North): Par 72 / 7258 yards
• Hole breakdown:
  • Torrey Pines (South): 4x par 3s (177-227 yards), 10x par 4s (389-505 yards), 4x par 5s (564-621 yards)
  • Torrey Pines (North): 4x par 3s (202-241 yards), 10x par 4s (322-495 yards), 4x par 5s (520-556 yards)
• Average winning score: -12.8 (last 10 editions of the Farmers Insurance Open)
• Course style:
  • Torrey Pines (South): Long, challenging and exposed championship-style parkland course, built on the cliffside overlooking the Pacific Ocean
  • Torrey Pines (North): More traditional parkland setup with easier scoring opportunities than the South Course, but still has all of those elements of oceanside golf
• Fairways:
  • Torrey Pines (South): Narrow (fourth-toughest to hit on the PGA Tour) and slope back towards the ocean; protected by strategic bunkering and thick kikuyu-based rough
  • Torrey Pines (North): Tight and again protected by that same kikuyu-based rough, but lacking in strategic bunkering
• Greens:
  • Torrey Pines (South): Small (5000 sq. ft.), strongly contoured, and firm poa annua surfaces; rank among the most difficult to putt on the PGA Tour due to poa's notoriously bumpy nature. Angled to the fairway and full of run-offs, they're tough to hold
  • Torrey Pines (North): Average-sized (6000 sq. ft.) bentgrass surfaces that are more receptive and feature less severe contours
• Defences:
  • Torrey Pines (South): Length; exposure to wind; thick rough; firm and bumpy poa annua greens
  • Torrey Pines (North): Susceptible to wind; thick rough

Torrey Pines assesses every aspect of a player's game: the South's narrow fairways, troublesome rough, and fiendish greens demand power, precision and a subtle touch in equal measure, while the North's more forgiving nature offers a fleeting chance to make some birdies.

Water is only in play on one hole – guarding the front of the green on the exciting par-5 18^th at the South – but there will still be no shortage of drama in San Diego.

THE WEATHER

Wind and rain significantly ramp up the difficulty at Torrey Pines, but conditions appear favourable this week. Forecasts suggest bright, warm weather throughout, with little sign of rain and only light winds of around 5mph.

KEY STATS

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR) / Proximity from over 200 yards

The Major Championship-level test at Torrey Pines requires all-round quality, but it's strength with the irons that has stood out most in recent renewals. It's especially important to be dialled in with the long irons, with approaches at 200+ yards accounting for over a third at the South Course.

• 2025
  • Harris English (Winner): 4^th in SG: Approach
  • Sam Stevens (2^nd): 3^rd in SG: Approach / 8^th in GIR
  • Andrew Novak (3^rd): 7^th in SG: Approach / 9^th in GIR
• 2024
  • Matthieu Pavon (Winner): 3^rd in SG: Approach / 7^th in GIR
  • Jake Knapp (3^rd): 12^th in SG: Approach / 3^rd in GIR
  • Tony Finau (6^th): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
• 2023
  • Max Homa (Winner): 1^st in SG: Approach / 4^th in GIR
  • Keegan Bradley (2^nd): 10^th in SG: Approach / 13^th in GIR
  • Collin Morikawa (3^rd): 3^rd in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Sungjae Im (4^th): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Sahith Theegala (4^th): 4^th in SG: Approach
  • Sam Ryder (4^th): 12^th in SG: Approach / 6^th in GIR
• 2022
  • Luke List (Winner): 4^th in SG: Approach / 7^th in GIR
  • Will Zalatoris (2^nd): 1^st in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR

SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) / Driving Distance

Due to the South Course's length, narrow fairways, and punishing rough, it's no surprise to see elite, long drivers hit the top of the leaderboard.

• 2025
  • Sam Stevens (2^nd): 4^th in SG: OTT / 15^th in driving distance
  • Five of the top eight ranked inside the top 25 in SG: OTT and driving distance
• 2024
  • Nicolai Hojgaard (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 7^th in driving distance
  • Jake Knapp (3^rd): 7^th in SG: OTT / 12^th in driving distance
  • Seven of the top 12 ranked inside the top 25 in SG: OTT, and nine in driving distance
• 2023
  • Collin Morikawa (3^rd): 3^rd in SG: OTT
• 2022
  • Luke List (Winner): 21^st in SG: OTT / 10^th in driving distance
  • Will Zalatoris (2^nd): 8^th in SG: OTT / 8^th in driving distance
  • Jon Rahm (3^rd): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 6^th in driving distance
  • Seven of the top 10 ranked inside the top 25 in SG: OTT, and four of the top five were top 20 in driving distance
• 2021
  • Henrik Norlander (3^rd): 4^th in SG: OTT
  • Seven of the top nine ranked inside the top 25 in driving distance

Scrambling / SG: Putting (poa annua)

As mentioned, all-round excellence is typically required here, meaning strength with the short game is necessary. Scrambling from this tricky rough is an arduous task, and it also pays to side with players who are proven on poa annua, due to the unique challenges of that surface.

• 2025
  • Harris English (Winner): 1^st in scrambling / 3^rd in SG: Putting
  • Sam Stevens (2^nd): 6^th in scrambling
  • Kristoffer Ventura (4^th): 3^rd in scrambling / 14^th in SG: Putting
• 2024
  • Matthieu Pavon (Winner): 5^th in scrambling / 5^th in SG: Putting
  • Nicolai Hojgaard (2^nd): 10^th in scrambling
  • Nate Lashley (3^rd): 20^th in scrambling / 6^th in SG: Putting
• 2023
  • Max Homa (Winner): 23^rd in scrambling / 9^th in SG: Putting
  • Keegan Bradley (2^nd): 3^rd in scrambling / 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Sungjae Im (4^th): 16^th in scrambling / 6^th in SG: Putting
• 2022
  • Luke List (Winner): 25^th in scrambling / 8^th in SG: Putting
  • Will Zalatoris (2^nd): 10^th in scrambling
  • Jason Day (3^rd): 15^th in scrambling / 7^th in SG: Putting
• 2021
  • Patrick Reed (Winner): 20^th in scrambling / 10^th in SG: Putting
  • Xander Schauffele (2^nd): 6^th in scrambling / 8^th in SG: Putting
  • Viktor Hovland (2^nd): 12^th in scrambling / 15^th in SG: Putting
  • Tony Finau (2^nd): 4^th in scrambling
  • Ryan Palmer (2^nd): 8^th in scrambling / 2^nd in SG: Putting
  • Henrik Norlander (2^nd): 9^th in scrambling

Par 5 Scoring

In addition, with four great scoring chances at the North Course, and representing four of the only real birdie opportunities at the South, taking care of the par 5s is vital.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Genesis Invitational (Riviera Country Club)

While they may be rather different visually, there are plenty of similarities to be found between Riviera and Torrey Pines. Each based in California, their poa annua greens are some of the most challenging to putt on tour, and kikuyu rough offers significant punishment for those straying from the short grass.

They provide comparable tests off the tee, with the narrow fairways at Riviera the second-hardest to hit on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, the approach test there is somewhat familiar, with the long irons carrying the most importance.

Notable correlating form:

• Max Homa: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Genesis (1^st, 2^nd)
• Luke List: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Genesis (2^nd)
• Marc Leishman: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Genesis (4^th, 5^th)
• Scott Stallings: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 2^nd) / Genesis (4^th)
• Charles Howell III: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Genesis (1^st)
• B. Holmes: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Genesis (1^st)
• Tony Finau: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Genesis (2^nd, 2^nd)
• Keegan Bradley: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 4^th, 5^th) / Genesis (2^nd, 4^th)
• Will Zalatoris: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Genesis (2^nd, 4^th)
• Viktor Hovland: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Genesis (4^th, 5^th)
• Jimmy Walker: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th, 4^th) / Genesis (4^th, 4^th)

Memorial Tournament (Muirfield Village)

Muirfield Village is a lengthy, major-like venue that favours players who stripe their long irons. Although the fairways are more generous, the driving challenge ranks closely to Torrey Pines South, with thick rough punishing wayward drives and small, firm greens placing equal emphasis on precise approaches.

Notable correlating form:

• Scott Stallings: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 2^nd) / Memorial (4^th)
• Marc Leishman: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Memorial (5^th, 5^th)
• Max Homa: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Memorial (5^th, 6^th)
• Viktor Hovland: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Memorial (1^st, 3^rd)
• Ryan Palmer: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 2^nd) / Memorial (2^nd)
• Kyle Stanley: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Memorial (2^nd, 3^rd)
• Will Zalatoris: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Memorial (5^th)
• Maverick McNealy: Genesis Invitational (2^nd) / Memorial (5^th)
• Kevin Streelman: Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd) / Memorial (4^th)
• Sahith Theegala: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th) / Memorial (5^th)
• Denny McCarthy: Genesis Invitational (5^th) / Memorial (2^nd)

Truist Championship (Quail Hollow Club)

Host of last year's PGA Championship, along with being the regular host of the Truist Championship, Quail Hollow is another long and demanding course that suits major performers. Approaches from over 200 yards are highly common, fairways are narrow, and the short-game challenge matches what players will encounter this week.

Notable correlating form:

• Jason Day: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 1^st) / Truist (1^st)
• Max Homa: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Truist (1^st)
• Harris English: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 2^nd) / Truist (3^rd)
• Luke List: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Truist (6^th, 9^th)
• B. Holmes: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Truist (1^st)
• Viktor Hovland: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Truist (3^rd)
• Patrick Rodgers: Genesis Invitational/Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd, 4^th) / Truist (2^nd)
• Sungjae Im: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th, 4^th) / Truist (4^th, 8^th)
• A. Points: Farmers Insurance Open (5^th, 8^th, 9^th) / Truist (2^nd)
• Denny McCarthy: Genesis Invitational (5^th) / Truist (6^th, 8^th)
• Joel Dahmen: Farmers Insurance Open (9^th, 9^th) / Truist (2^nd)

Texas Open (TPC San Antonio)

The ball-striking challenge at TPC San Antonio is one of the toughest on tour, with driving accuracy and GIR percentages among the lowest. Again, it's the long irons that hold the most weight, and with the windy Texas weather adding another dimension of difficulty, it compares closely to Torrey Pines.

Notable correlating form:

• Brandt Snedeker: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 1^st) / Texas (4^th, 6^th)
• Sam Stevens: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd) / Texas (2^nd)
• Tony Finau: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Texas (3^rd)
• Maverick McNealy: Genesis Invitational (2^nd) / Texas (3^rd)
• Charles Howell III: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Texas (4^th)
• Ryan Palmer: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 2^nd) / Texas (4^th, 6^th, 6^th)
• Andrew Novak: Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd) / Texas (3^rd)
• Cameron Tringale: Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd, 4^th) / Texas (5^th, 8^th, 9^th)
• Patrick Rodgers: Genesis Invitational/Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd, 4^th) / Texas (5^th)
• Jimmy Walker: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th, 4^th) / Texas (1^st, 3^rd, 4^th)
• Sam Ryder: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th) / Texas (3^rd)
• Denny McCarthy: Genesis Invitational (5^th) / Texas (2^nd)
• Tom Hoge: Farmers Insurance Open (5^th) / Texas (5^th)
• John Huh: Farmers Insurance Open (6^th, 8^th) / Texas (2^nd)
• Beau Hossler: Farmers Insurance Open (6^th, 9^th) / Texas (4^th)

Procore Championship (Silverado Resort – North Course)

I'm heading back to California to finish, with Silverado Resort's North Course. Possessing narrow fairways and small, tricky poa annua greens, plenty of top performers at the Farmers Insurance Open have carried form to this setup.

Notable correlating form:

• Max Homa: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Procore (1^st, 1^st)
• Brandt Snedeker: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 1^st) / Procore (2^nd)
• Marc Leishman: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Procore (3^rd, 4^th)
• Luke List: Farmers Insurance Open (1^st) / Procore (4^th)
• Tony Finau: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Procore (2^nd)
• Maverick McNealy: Genesis Invitational (2^nd) / Procore (2^nd)
• Charles Howell III: Farmers Insurance Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd) / Procore (4^th)
• Kevin Streelman: Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd) / Procore (3^rd)
• Talor Gooch: Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd) / Procore (4^th)
• Sahith Theegala: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th) / Procore (1^st)
• Sungjae Im: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th, 4^th) / Procore (4^th)
• Sam Ryder: Farmers Insurance Open (4^th) / Procore (4^th)
• Patrick Rodgers: Genesis Invitational/Farmers Insurance Open (3^rd, 4^th) / Procore (6^th, 6^th)
• Lanto Griffin: Farmers Insurance Open (7^th, 9^th) / Procore (3^rd)

THE FIELD

Xander Schauffele makes his first appearance of the year at Torrey Pines and is the top-ranked player in the field at No. 6. He is joined by a further two top-10 players – J.J. Spaun (No. 7) and Justin Rose (No. 10) – and there are 13 of the world's top 25 in total.

Harris English defends and is one of seven former winners in action, alongside Matthieu Pavon (2024), Max Homa (2023), Luke List (2022), Justin Rose (2019), Jason Day (2018, 2015), and Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012).

Last year's Genesis Invitational winner at Torrey Pines South, Ludvig Aberg, is also in the field. Meanwhile, 2025 PGA Tour winners, Cameron Young and Garrick Higgo, make their 2026 debuts; Marco Penge and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen each get their rookie seasons underway after gaining tour cards via the DP World Tour (DPWT); and last but not least, five-time major champion Brooks Koepka makes his sensational return.

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Xander Schauffele 16/1, Ludvig Aberg 18/1, Cameron Young 20/1, Si Woo Kim 25/1, Jason Day 25/1

1.5 pts Harris English each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 30/1

The nature of this championship test often results in the same players performing positively year on year. Having made an encouraging return to action in The AmEx, Harris English looks primed for a positive title defence and goes in as this week's headline selection.

English's win here last year sparked a fantastic 2025 campaign for the American. He made the cut in each major, finishing 2^nd in The Open at Royal Portrush and the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, and he picked up another top-five when 4^th in the Travelers Championship.

He skipped the Sony Open for the first time since 2020, instead choosing to begin this season in California. His game looked sharp from the off as he finished 27^th, shooting every round under par and showing quality right through the bag.

It was the short game that impressed most in 2025, ranking 18^th in both scrambling and SG: Putting on the PGA Tour. He also produced one of his standout seasons with the driver, combining equal parts power and accuracy to rank 47^th overall, and his iron play was also an improvement on the previous three years.

English has only missed three of 14 cuts at Torrey Pines, and prior to winning last year, he finished 2^nd in this event in 2015 and 3^rd in the 2021 U.S. Open. With two further U.S. Open top-10s to his name, along with those major runner-up finishes in 2025, he's a player who excels under these conditions, and the field faces a difficult task attempting to pry the trophy from his grasp this week.

1.5 pts Chris Gotterup each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 33/1

After beginning the year with a victory in the Sony Open, I’m taking Chris Gotterup to make it two wins from two 2026 appearances in California. He’s adapted to this tournament favourably in two starts, and with many of his standout results coming by the coast and on exposed layouts, it really looks a fantastic fit for this elite driver.

Gotterup was slow to get going in 2025, missing two of his first three cuts, but he immediately enhanced his performance here, finishing 25^th – one of 13 top-25s. He was consistent in the second half of the year, making every cut from June onwards, and he memorably impressed in the UK, following a victory in a stacked Scottish Open with a 3^rd-place finish at Royal Portrush in The Open.

A third PGA Tour-sanctioned victory followed in the Sony Open two weeks ago, an event in which he shot four under-par rounds and sat no worse than 6^th after any day. Every part of his game fired, but it was that explosive driving that shone, ranking 1^st in SG: OTT.

That display should come as no surprise, as Gotterup – the seventh-longest hitter on the PGA Tour in 2025 – ranks 2^nd in this field with the club over the last 12 months. In addition, he was also 19^th in scrambling and 22^nd in GIR last year, and the putter has become another asset, ranking 22^nd over the previous six months.

Gotterup was 50^th on his Farmers Insurance debut in 2024 and improved considerably to finish 25^th in 2025. Comp form is thin on the ground, but he has made each cut in the U.S. Open, ranking 9^th from tee-to-green when 23^rd at Oakmont last year.

That complements his promising record at Torrey Pines, and when we also take each of those three PGA Tour wins by the coast into account, he stands out as a leading contender.

1.5 pts Maverick McNealy each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 33/1

Despite just falling short of a victory, Maverick McNealy produced the best golf of his career in 2025. He began this year strongly in Hawaii a fortnight ago and possessing a striking record at Torrey Pines, along with several of the comp courses, he’s a great match for this challenge.

McNealy missed just five cuts in 25 appearances last season and picked up seven top-10 finishes. He went closest at Torrey Pines South in the Genesis Invitational, finishing 2^nd and also finished 3^rd in the Texas Open, RBC Heritage, and BMW Championship. Meanwhile, he turned up in each of the biggest events, finishing inside the top 40 in every major.

Sitting 6^th and just one off the lead, the Californian had every opportunity at the halfway point of the Sony Open. A four-over 74 in round three put paid to his chances, but he rallied with a 67 on Sunday to finish 24^th and gained strokes across his game.

This was indicative of his play in 2025, as he ranked 26^th on tour in SG: Total. He particularly excelled with the putter, ranking 26^th and he was typically solid (and lengthy) off the tee. However, it was his iron play that was most eye-catching, ranking 44^th in SG: Approach – his highest position since joining the tour in 2020.

McNealy has only missed one cut in seven starts at this tournament, going best when 15^th in 2020. His runner-up effort in the Genesis Invitational here shows he’s capable of improving on that, and with finishes of 2^nd in the Procore Championship, 3^rd in the Texas Open, and 5^th in the Memorial Tournament to boot, his profile is among the most appealing in the field.

1 pt Johnny Keefer each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 90/1

This event is not shy on surprise contenders and with that, I’m going to finish with a couple of Korn Ferry Tour (KFT) graduates who I feel could benefit from this tougher test, starting with Johnny Keefer. He led the standings at that lower level last year thanks to two victories, and having already proven himself capable at this higher level in limited starts, this strong all-rounder may not take long to enter the winner’s circle.

Keefer turned pro halfway through 2024 after a successful amateur career that took him to No. 24 in the world. He won in Canada that year – one of eight top-five finishes on 10 starts – and then ended the year with a 13^th-place finish in the Procore Championship on the PGA Tour.

He took the step up to the KFT in his stride in 2025, recording wins in the Veritex Bank Championship and NV5 Invitational. With runner-up finishes in Panama and Knoxville among 13 other top-25s, he comfortably topped the rankings to earn his promotion.

The 25-year-old ended the year with a 7^th-place finish at the RSM Classic, and he’s continued to look comfortable on the PGA Tour at the beginning of 2026, finishing 27^th in last week’s American Express. He particularly impressed with his iron play at the Stadium Course there, ranking 3^rd in GIR and 4^th in SG: Approach over the two rounds.

Keefer has hit the ball strongly throughout his PGA Tour starts, though his stats from the KFT indicate he’s a player with a more complete all-round game who could handle these demands. He ranked 2^nd in scrambling, 4^th in total driving (combining 12^th in driving distance and 54^th in driving accuracy), 10^th in putting, 15^th in GIR, and as the best par-5 scorer, we should see him thrive in these surrounds.

1 pt Neal Shipley each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 175/1

Neal Shipley first came to everyone’s attention due to his excellent major performances in 2024 when still an amateur. His young career has followed a similar path to Keefer’s since then, claiming two victories on the KFT in 2025 to finish 4^th on the points list, and with his suitability for a more robust challenge evident, he could cause a stir at Torrey Pines.

Shipley turned pro in 2024, reaching a peak position of No. 17 as an amateur. He shone in The Masters and U.S. Open that year, finishing 53^rd and 26^th respectively – on his way to claiming low amateur honours in both – and he also finished 13^th in the Procore Championship towards the end of the PGA Tour season.

The KFT beckoned in 2025, where we witnessed him pick up the first wins of the pro career in The Ascendant and the LECOM Suncoast Classic. He amassed a further six top-10s, including finishing 3^rd in the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship – another examining test on a lengthy layout.

He hasn’t quite managed to carry that form over into the new season, finishing way down the field when missing the cut in the Sony Open to kick off his campaign. Although he still missed the cut by some way at The AmEx, improvements were made and I was taken by how he hit his irons at the Stadium Course.

Shipley has also shown quality throughout his bag, but it’s the length and accuracy he displays off the tee that is most promising, ranking 8^th in total driving on the KFT in 2025. He was also 1^st in putting, 22^nd in scrambling, and with those major efforts suggesting he’ll come alive when the scoring conditions are sterner, I’m happy to chance him at a big price.

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