We really didn’t have to wait long for the best full-field event of 2019 on the PGA Tour. This weekend’s field for the Farmers Insurance Open is loaded with big hitters and top talent looking to conquer the 54 holes played on the South Course at Torrey Pines and the 18 holes played on the North Course.
With so many big names, many of which have had success at this course and this event, you’re going to have to save money somewhere. That’s what we’ll be looking to do this week with our set of value picks for the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open.
Si Woo Kim ($7,400) – Si Woo Kim had some rust to shake off in Hawaii for the Sony Open. He started with a 68, but his Friday 72 wasn’t good enough and he missed the cut. That short-term setback might have had a little bit of carryover into last week’s Desert Classic, but he finished strong with a 67-68 on the weekend. Kim finished with 21 birdies against just eight bogeys and now is the time to climb back on board. Kim had two top-15 finishes in the fall swing and has played relatively well at Torrey Pines. He finished 1-under last year and 18th during the rain-soaked and windy 2016 tournament. With that rust knocked off, look for Kim to get back to his successful ways as we go forward.
Sungjae Im ($7,800) – This kid has been the poster of consistency so far in his young PGA Tour career. The 20-year-old has played extremely well after the holiday break with a 16th at Waialae and a 12th last week at the PGA West complex. Im has shot a 64 and a 65 in each of his last two tournaments, after shooting four rounds under 70 at the RSM Classic in his last event before the holidays. Im had to scramble a lot last week, which is a sign of the growing maturity that he continues to display week in and week out. He’s going to get a win this year. It might not be here, but it’s coming and he has four top-20 finishes already this season.
JB Holmes ($7,900) – The South Course at Torrey Pines is a 7,700-yard behemoth. It is a big track and it requires a big hitter. JB Holmes is one of those. We haven’t seen Holmes in a little while, but he’s played very well here in the past. Holmes was fourth last year, sixth in 2016, and second in 2015. He struggled in his fall finale at Mayakoba, but finished in the top 25 of his first three wraparound events, including a ninth at Silverado in the Safeway Open. Holmes isn’t the only guy with a California pedigree that we will highlight this week.
Brandt Snedeker ($8,400) – If you want an affordable horse for course play, Brandt Snedeker is that dude. Snedeker wasn’t great last year with an even par for the weekend, but he was ninth in 2017, won in 2016 and 2012, and was second in 2013 and 2010. You are paying a premium on him right now, but he did play pretty well in the two Hawaii events before skipping last week to get ready for this one. He knows that this is a tournament where he has success, so he even bypassed a California event last week to prep for this one. He tied for second in the Safeway Open at Silverado earlier this season and really shot himself in the foot with a final-round 74 when he was in position to win. This is arguably the ultimate horse for course pick this week.
Luke List ($7,700) – Luke List is a boom or bust guy this week. He’s played four events so far this season and has finished fourth twice and has missed the cut twice. He’s a tremendously big hitter, which can’t hurt at Torrey Pines. He was fourth at the Safeway Open to begin the season and fourth at the RSM Classic. List was 12th here last year, but he really struggled on the weekend going 73-75. This hasn’t been a great tournament for him, but it’s really hard to argue about that distance off of the tee and it could be a huge asset for him here this week if he can make some putts.
