Before we dive into Torrey Pines yardage and course fit, we have to start by tipping the cap to Scottie Scheffler. The world No. 1 opened his 2026 season in convincing fashion, winning The American Express at 27 under par, four shots clear of the field. It marked Scheffler’s 20th PGA Tour victory before turning 30, placing him in elite company alongside Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
With crowds chasing Scheffler around La Quinta like groupies, the American Express delivered plenty of entertainment beyond the winner. Four players finished tied for second at 23 under, including Jason Day, Taylor Pendrith, Andrew Putnam, and Nick Taylor. Si Woo Kim drained a 46 foot birdie on the Stadium Course’s island green 17th while chasing a share of second, and 18 year old Blades Brown announced himself in a big way by firing a course record 60 on the PGA West Nicklaus course, prompting everyone to ask, “Who is this kid?”
The Setup: Storylines, Stakes, and Field Updates
After the birdie fest in the desert, the Tour heads to one of its most demanding stops at Torrey Pines. The Farmers Insurance Open is contested on the cliffside layouts of Torrey Pines North and South, where patience and precision are as important as power.
This week’s field is officially listed at 147 players, expanded so everyone can play in threesomes for the first two rounds after Brooks Koepka was added via the Returning Member Program. His inclusion injects star power into a field that already features ten major winners and seven past Farmers champions, including defending winner Harris English, Matthieu Pavon, Max Homa, Luke List, Justin Rose, Jason Day, and Brandt Snedeker.
Three storylines I am focused on this week include:
-
With Brooks Koepka back in the field, can he rejoin the Tour conversation with a top ten finish?
-
With Scheffler taking the week off, who steps up to claim the top paycheck in the $9.6 million event?
-
Hometown favorite Xander Schauffele headlines the odds board and fan energy, and Torrey Pines has a history of rewarding players who do not flinch when pars feel like birdies.
The Course: What It Demands and What It Punishes
The Farmers uses a two course rotation, with players getting one round on Torrey Pines North and one on Torrey Pines South. All players who make the cut finish the tournament on the South Course.
Torrey Pines South is the centerpiece. At nearly 7,800 yards, it is the longest course on the annual PGA Tour schedule. Narrow fairways, thick rough, small greens, and a heavy concentration of long par fours define the challenge. The South Course demands elite approach play and disciplined aggression, because even conservative decisions can still leave players scrambling for bogey.
Torrey Pines North offers more scoring opportunities. While still a Tour level test, it is far more forgiving. The goal on the North Course is to convert wedge and mid iron chances without getting careless, banking a solid score before the South Course begins to assert itself.
Who Scores Well Here: Player Archetypes and Names to Know
Torrey Pines tends to reward two types of players. The first is the complete ball striker who can keep the ball in play and consistently hit quality approaches. Missing greens on the South Course often turns into a survival exercise. The second is the grinder who may not dominate off the tee but strikes clean irons, scrambles efficiently, and can putt well enough to separate from the field.
Betting Board: Odds, Angles, and Smart Plays
Here is the top of the betting board sourced from DraftKings and checked the evening of January 26, 2026 at 9:15 p.m. Eastern:
Xander Schauffele +1500
Ludvig Åberg +1750
Cameron Young +1850
Patrick Cantlay +2300
Si Woo Kim +2500
Brooks Koepka is listed at +5300 to win and +600 for a Top 10 finish, which presents an intriguing longshot option.
For finishing position markets, Top 10 and Top 20 prices for the favorites include:
Schauffele +190 Top 10 and -110 Top 20
Åberg +220 and +106
Young +230 and +110
Cantlay +265 and +125
Kim +270 and +126
One and Done and Season Long Strategy
Torrey Pines is a classic fork in the road for One and Done players. Schauffele is priced as the headliner, but he is also the type of premium option you may want later in signature events and majors. Using him here is a decision that affects the rest of the season.
A more conservative approach is leaning on proven Farmers winners who are in the field, such as Harris English as the defending champion or Max Homa as a past winner, allowing you to preserve elite options for larger purses down the line.
What I Am Watching When the First Tee Shot Flies
First, I am watching how players score on the North Course without getting sloppy, because mistakes are magnified quickly on the South Course. Second, I am watching approach play on the South Course’s long par fours in the 450 to 500 yard range, which consistently separate contenders from survivors. Third, I am watching who delivers putts cleanly on Poa under pressure. Three putting from 35 feet is a fast track to missing the cut.
Wrap: The Takeaway and What Comes Next
Last week at PGA West was a birdie parade with headliner moments and a relaxed vacation atmosphere. This week is different. Torrey Pines is a demanding test where patience is rewarded, mistakes are punished, and the winner earns a Sunday victory the hard way.
After the cut, I will be keeping a close eye on Si Woo Kim, and I may take a small swing on Brooks Koepka at long odds to add some extra intrigue to Sunday afternoon.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
