The PGA TOUR remains in California for the second straight week for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Like the American Express last week, the Farmers Insurance Open will be played on multiple courses. Each golfer of this 156-man field will play a round on both the South Course (par 72, 7,765 yards, POA greens) and the North Course (par 72, 7,258 yards, bentgrass greens) of Torrey Pines. Then, there will be a standard top-65 and ties cut, and the players who advance will play the final two rounds on the South Course.
Torrey Pines has hosted the Farmers Insurance Open since 1968 and Matthieu Pavon (-13) is the defending champion of this event, after edging out Nicolai Hojgaard by one stroke a year ago. With three of the four rounds being played on the South Course and all the previous SG data for the Farmers Insurance Open coming exclusively from this track, the South Course is the host venue and the course we need to be focusing on for research.
The South Course is a long and difficult track, that features narrow fairways, thick rough, tiny greens, 82 bunkers and water in player on one hole. While the South Course is the longest course on the annual PGA TOUR schedule, we have seen both short and long hitters win at this venue, and the South Course is a prime example of a second-shot course, where you need to be in pristine form with both your irons and putter. Notably, four of the past five Farmers Insurance Open winners have finished the event top-10 in both SG APP and SGP. Being efficient on the par fours of the South Course is most crucial, specifically the par fours that range from 450-500 yards. Six of the 10 par fours at this track fall in this range and for five years in a row, the victor of the Farmers Insurance Open has either led their field or finished runner-up in efficiency on the 450-500-yard par fours of the South Course.
Below, I have featured four of my favorite sub $7.5K DraftKings bargain plays for the Farmers Insurance Open.
Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR $500K Pitch + Putt [$100K to 1st]
Jhonattan Vegas ($7,400) – Vegas missing the cut last week at the American Express wasn’t shocking and he should get back on track at the Farmers Insurance Open. Vegas has never fared well at the American Express, with last week being his fourth consecutive missed cut at the tournament. Conversely, Vegas has thrived at the Farmers Insurance Open, making 9-of-14 cuts at the event with six top-30 finishes, including a T3 in 2011.
Before last week’s speed bump, Vegas had finished T4 at the Sentry in his previous start, while leading the field with a career-best 10.1 strokes gained on approach. The 40-year-old has only missed two cuts in his last 14 starts and is a terrific bargain at only $7,400. On the DraftKings Sportsbook, Vegas carries +7500 odds to win the Farmers Insurance Open, which are the best odds among all the players priced under $7.5K for DFS this week.
Alex Smalley ($7,300) – Smalley has made 2-of-3 cuts at the Farmers Insurance Open and he is in awesome form to begin 2025. After finishing T16th at the Sony Open, Smalley finished 11th at the American Express last week. During both these starts, the 28-year-old gained strokes in every major category and he shot under par in every round, most notably with a 7-under 65 to close out the American Express this past Sunday, which was the lowest score of the final round.
These two starts alone have moved Smalley up 30 spots in the world golf rankings and he is an elite value play at this low salary.
Gary Woodland ($7,200) – Woodland is on the heels of a T16 at the Sony Open, which is his third top-20 finish in his last five starts. Woodland has only missed two cuts in his last nine starts and as always, the former U.S. Open champion’s ball striking has been excellent, with him ranking top-five in both SGT2G and SG APP when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds.
Combine this compelling form with Woodland’s long, impressive resume at the Farmers Insurance Open, and he is a great bargain this week. At this event, Woodland has made 13-of-15 cuts with five top-20 finishes.
Taylor Montgomery ($6,500) – Montgomery is an intriguing punt play that should come with very little ownership. The 29-year-old has made four cuts in a row while gaining strokes with his putter at three of these four tournaments. Montgomery ranks 12th in SGP when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds and he and his hot flat stick now travel to Torrey Pines, where Montgomery has been exceptional.
Montgomery has competed at the last three Farmers Insurance Opens and he has finished T11th, T31st and T13th, in that order. Montgomery should at the minimum make the cut this week, which would be a great return at his low salary.
