The Farmers Insurance Open is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played in the San Diego, California, area in the early part of the 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. It originated as the San Diego Open in 1952 and used that name in its title through 1985. Title sponsors were added in 1981, first with Wickes for two years, then three with Isuzu. Shearson Lehman Brothers became the title sponsors in 1986, replaced by Buick in 1992 and Farmers Insurance in 2010.[2] The event is organized by The Century Club of San Diego.
Although the San Diego Open began in 1952, the PGA Tour recognizes two earlier events of the same name: Leo Diegel won both events, in 1927 and 1929.[3]
Course history
Upon its founding in 1952, the tournament was initially played at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista for its first two years. In 1954, the tournament moved to Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe; that club had previously hosted the Crosby Pro-Am prior to World War II. The event was played at Mission Valley Country Club in San Diego in 1955 for one year, then went to Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon in 1956. The tournament returned to Mission Valley C.C. in 1957 where it stayed through 1963. Mission Valley changed its name to Stardust Country Club in 1962 (and now is known as Riverwalk Golf Club). After one year in 1964 at Rancho Bernardo Country Club (now Rancho Bernardo Inn) in San Diego, it returned to Stardust C.C. for three years, through 1967.
In 1968, the event began its present relationship with Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, a 36-hole public facility owned by the City of San Diego. In the current tournament set-up, players split the first 36 holes between the North and South Courses, then play the final 36 holes on the South Course. In 2008, the South Course hosted the U.S. Open, won by Tiger Woods in a playoff,[4] and the major tournament is scheduled to return to the course in 2021.
Torrey Pines, South Course - 62, Tiger Woods, 1999
Tiger Woods is the only seven-time winner of the tournament, and Phil Mickelson the only other to win more than twice.
Hall of Famer and San Diego native Gene Littler is the only amateur winner, achieving the feat in 1954, and awarded a five-piece tea set.[6] Subsequently, as a professional, Littler was a runner-up three times (1969, 1974, 1978).
A memorable year in the tournament's history was 1982, when Johnny Miller outdueled Jack Nicklaus to win by one stroke.[7]
Tiger Woods (2005–08) won four straight years, then won the 2008 U.S. Open on the South Course in June.
Marc Leishman
