Farmers Insurance Open
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | La Jolla, California |
| Established | 1952 (1927) |
| Course(s) | Torrey Pines Golf Course |
| Par | 72 (both courses) |
| Length | 7,569 yards (South) 6,874 yards (North) |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $6,000,000 |
| Month played | January |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 266 George Burns (1987) 266 Tiger Woods (1999) |
| To par | -22 George Burns (1987) -22 Tiger Woods (1999) |
| Current champion | |
| Bubba Watson | |
The Farmers Insurance Open is a PGA Tour professional golf tournament played in the San Diego, California area in the early part of the Tour season, known as the "West Coast Swing." The tournament was noted for having singer-actor Andy Williams as a celebrity host from 1968 to 1988. The tournament originated as the San Diego Open and used that name in its title through 1985. Shearson Lehman Brothers were title sponsors from 1985 to 1992. Buick was the main tournament sponsor from 1992 to 2009. Farmers Insurance Group is the main sponsor as of 2010.[1] It is organized by the The Century Club of San Diego.
Contents |
[edit] Course history
From 1952–53, the tournament was played at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, California before spending 1954 at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California. In 1955 the event moved to Mission Valley Country Club in San Diego, California, and after the 1956 event was played at Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon, California, the event returned to Mission Valley CC until 1961. In 1962, Mission Valley CC changed its name to Stardust Country Club (and now is known as Riverwalk Golf Club) and the event stayed there from 1962–63; after spending 1964 at Rancho Bernardo Country Club (now Rancho Bernardo Inn) in San Diego, California, it returned to Stardust CC until 1967.
In 1968, the event began its relationship with Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California, where it has been played ever since. In the current tournament set-up, players will split the first 36 holes between the North and South Courses, then play the final 36 holes on the South Course. In 2008, Torrey Pines-South hosted the U.S. Open.[2]
[edit] Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | 1st Prize ($) | Purse ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers Insurance Open | ||||||
| 2011 | Bubba Watson |  United States |
272 | -16 | 1,044,000 | 5,800,000 |
| 2010 | Ben Crane | United States |
275 | -13 | 954,000 | 5,300,000 |
| Buick Invitational | ||||||
| 2009 | Nick Watney | United States |
277 | -11 | 954,000 | 5,300,000 |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods | United States |
269 | -19 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods | United States |
273 | -15 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods | United States |
278 | -10 | 918,000 | 5,100,000 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods | United States |
272 | -16 | 864,000 | 4,800,000 |
| 2004 | John Daly | United States |
278 | -10 | 864,000 | 4,800,000 |
| 2003 | Tiger Woods | United States |
272 | -16 | 810,000 | 4,500,000 |
| 2002 | José María Olazábal |  Spain |
275 | -13 | 648,000 | 3,600,000 |
| 2001 | Phil Mickelson | United States |
269 | -19 | 630,000 | 3,500,000 |
| 2000 | Phil Mickelson | United States |
270 | -18 | 540,000 | 3,000,000 |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | United States |
266 | -22 | 486,000 | 2,700,000 |
| 1998 | Scott Simpson | United States |
204* | -12 | 378,000 | 2,100,000 |
| 1997 | Mark O'Meara | United States |
275 | -13 | 270,000 | 1,500,000 |
| 1996 | Davis Love | United States |
269 | -19 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Buick Invitational of California | ||||||
| 1995 | Peter Jacobsen | United States |
269 | -19 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 1994 | Craig Stadler | United States |
268 | -20 | 198,000 | 1,100,000 |
| 1993 | Phil Mickelson | United States |
278 | -10 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1992 | Steve Pate | United States |
200* | -16 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Shearson Lehman Brothers Open | ||||||
| 1991 | Jay Don Blake | United States |
268 | -20 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Shearson Lehman Hutton Open | ||||||
| 1990 | Dan Forsman | United States |
275 | -13 | 162,000 | 900,000 |
| 1989 | Greg Twiggs | United States |
271 | -17 | 126,000 | 700,000 |
| Shearson Lehman Hutton Andy Williams Open | ||||||
| 1988 | Steve Pate | United States |
269 | -19 | 117,000 | 650,000 |
| Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open | ||||||
| 1987 | George Burns | United States |
266 | -22 | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| 1986 | Bob Tway | United States |
204* | -12 | 81,000 | 450,000 |
| Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1985 | Woody Blackburn | United States |
269 | -19 | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1984 | Gary Koch | United States |
272 | -16 | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1983 | Gary Hallberg | United States |
271 | -17 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1982 | Johnny Miller | United States |
270 | -18 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1981 | Bruce Lietzke | United States |
278 | -10 | 45,000 | 250,000 |
| Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1980 | Tom Watson | United States |
275 | -13 | 45,000 | 250,000 |
| 1979 | Fuzzy Zoeller | United States |
282 | -6 | 45,000 | 250,000 |
| 1978 | Jay Haas | United States |
278 | -10 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1977 | Tom Watson | United States |
269 | -19 | 36,000 | 180,000 |
| 1976 | J. C. Snead | United States |
272 | -16 | 36,000 | 180,000 |
| 1975 | J. C. Snead | United States |
279 | -9 | 34,000 | 170,000 |
| 1974 | Bobby Nichols | United States |
275 | -13 | 34,000 | 170,000 |
| 1973 | Bob Dickson | United States |
278 | -10 | 34,000 | 170,000 |
| 1972 | Paul Harney | United States |
275 | -13 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1971 | George Archer | United States |
272 | -16 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1970 | Pete Brown | United States |
275 | -13 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1969 | Jack Nicklaus | United States |
284 | -4 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1968 | Tom Weiskopf | United States |
273 | -15 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| San Diego Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1967 | Bob Goalby | United States |
269 | -15 | 13,200 | 71,000 |
| 1966 | Billy Casper | United States |
268 | -16 | 5,800 | 45,000 |
| 1965 | Wes Ellis | United States |
267 | -17 | 4,850 | 39,000 |
| 1964 | Art Wall, Jr. | United States |
274 | -6 | 4,300 | 30,000 |
| 1963 | Gary Player |  South Africa |
270 | -14 | 3,500 | 25,000 |
| 1962 | Tommy Jacobs | United States |
277 | -7 | 3,500 | 25,000 |
| 1961 | Arnold Palmer | United States |
271 | -13 | 2,800 | 22,500 |
| 1960 | Mike Souchak | United States |
269 | -19 | 2,800 | 22,500 |
| 1959 | Marty Furgol |  United States |
274 | -14 | 2,800 | 20,000 |
| 1958 | No tournament - moved from November to January | |||||
| 1957 | Arnold Palmer |  United States |
271 | -17 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| Convair-San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1956 | Bob Rosburg | United States |
270 | -18 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| 1955 | Tommy Bolt | United States |
274 | -14 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1954 | Gene Littler (a) | United States |
274 | -14 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| 1953 | Tommy Bolt | United States |
274 | -14 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1952 | Ted Kroll | United States |
276 | -12 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1930-51 | No tournament | |||||
| 1929 | Leo Diegel | United States |
282 | -2 | 750 | 2,500 |
| 1928 | No tournament | |||||
| 1927 | Leo Diegel | United States |
214^ | 1,000 | 2,500 | |
- (a) - amateur
- * rain-shortened to 54 holes
- ^ scheduled 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources[3][4][5]
[edit] Multiple winners
Seven players have won this tournament more than once through 2011.
- 6 wins
- Tiger Woods: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- 3 wins
- Phil Mickelson: 1993, 2000, 2001
- 2 wins
- Tommy Bolt: 1953, 1955
- Arnold Palmer: 1957, 1961
- Steve Pate: 1988, 1992
- J. C. Snead: 1975, 1976
- Tom Watson: 1977, 1980
[edit] Records and trivia
- Tournament course record: Torrey Pines North Course - 61, Mark Brooks, 1990, and Brandt Snedeker, 2007; Torrey Pines South Course - 62, Tiger Woods, 1999
- Tiger Woods is the only six-time winner of the tournament, and Phil Mickelson the only other golfer to win more than twice.
- Hall of Famer Gene Littler is the only golfer to have won the tournament as an amateur, doing so in 1954. Littler, a San Diego native, never won as a professional - although he was runner-up three times (1969, 1974, 1978).
- One of the most memorable years in the tournament's history was 1982, when Johnny Miller outdueled Jack Nicklaus to win by one stroke.
- Tiger Woods (2005–08) won the tournament four straight years. J. C. Snead (1975–76) and Phil Mickelson (2000–01) won in back-to-back years.
- In 1952, boxer Joe Louis was invited to play in the San Diego Open on a sponsor's exemption, and became the first African American ever to play in this PGA Tour event.
[edit] References
- ^ Farmers Insurance to sponsor San Diego Tour event
- ^ PGA Tour 2007 Official Guide - January 2007, pages 1-5, 3-10 thru 3-11, 11-5.
- ^ 2009 Buick Invitational Media Guide - Tournament History - at www.buickinvitational.com
- ^ Buick Invitational - Winners - at www.pgatour.com
- ^ Buick Invitational - Winners - at golfobserver.com
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site
- Farmers Insurance Open results since 1970 - Winners, Finishers, Scores and Earnings
