Tiger Woods hasn’t been to the Torrey Pines Golf Course in five years, but he remains a constant presence.
Woods’ record seven Farmers Insurance Open titles at Torrey Pines — as well as to his iconic 2008 U.S. Open win and a 1991 Junior World championship at the course — provide plenty of source material.
On the eve of the 2024 Farmers Insurance Open, defending champion Max Homa and runner-up Keegan Bradley mentioned Woods when recalling some of their earliest memories of Torrey Pines.
Homa, who grew up three hours north of Torrey in Santa Clarita, recalled skipping school on a Friday to get a firsthand glimpse of greatness.
“We got to watch Tiger play the back nine on the South, which is cool,” Homa said.
Woods has had memorable moments on seemingly every hole on the South Course, but it was the way he played the par-4 15th on one occasion that remains vivid for Homa.
“I he hit a massive drive and it looked like he hit a 9-iron and spun it back to like two feet,” Homa said. “That’s the hole that I just sticks out so much to me. It’s graceful and it’s powerful, something you have to almost see up close.”
Homa recalled one instance in particular in 2015 where he got an “up close” glimpse of Woods’ gravitational pull.
“There was a fog delay and we were all stuck on the putting green and he’s playing with two very popular and amazing golfers, Billy Horschel and Rickie (Fowler).
“The first day there was a thousand people on the putting green and the next day, he had withdrawn that afternoon, and there was the same fog delay and there were like 22 people around us.
“It was like, dang, this guy really controls the world.”
Bradley said, “I grew up watching Tiger win here, shots he hit, incredible up-and-downs. It’s got a lot of great history.”
In his first year on the Tour in 2011, Bradley witnessed Woods’ aura in person for the first time.
“I was on this putting green out here and I was still in awe of everything my rookie year,” Bradley said. “Everything was just I couldn’t believe it, living out my dream. I was putting and there was so many people around the putting green, and I heard this like buzz or this commotion. I didn’t know what was going on, and I looked around and Tiger had walked down to the putting green.
“It was like a ‘holy cow’ moment for me. I’m trying to putt but I’m still peeking over to see, like I’ve never really seen him before. It just struck me.
“There’s holes out here mostly because of Tiger that you . You shots that he hit in U.S. Opens, and it’s just a special place.”
Homa, who closed out a solid week last year with a 6-under 66 for the victory, said, “Now it holds an even more special place in my heart. … I’ve had some success here and then last year, obviously, hit the jackpot.”
Homa said his sister lives in Del Mar, which makes it convenient for visiting her brother at his workplace.
“I think that’s really cool just to have a golf tournament now that she was here last year that we got to bond over,” Homa said. “I think that makes this place extra special.”
Homa has an opportunity to be the first back-to-back winner at Torrey since Woods won four straight years (2005-08).
“I think last year showed me that the stuff I’m working on is right, so I’m going to keep hammering on those things,” said Homa, who had 12 top-10 finishes last year. “My goals are, obviously, to win and to continue to work my way up the world ranking.”
Homa moved inside the top 10 shortly after winning the Farmers, and he comes into this year’s event ranked No. 7.
Bradley, ranked 13th, took a week off after tying for second place in the Sony Open.
“For the first time in my career finishing second I was really, really bummed out,” said Bradley, who lost to Grayson Murray in a playoff at the Sony. “I thought I should have won the tournament but I didn’t. So sometimes those things can work out as a positive to keep you motivated and hungry. …
“Second place is a bummer when I thought I should have won, but hopefully we’re building up for something bigger.”
Bradley finished second to Homa last year at the Farmers.
His 66 matched Homa for the lowest final round among the leaders. It just wasn’t enough to overcome the two-shot lead Homa had after three rounds.
Maybe this year, Bradley’s 14th appearance in the Farmers, will be different.
“I’ve played the course a million times so I know it pretty well,” Bradley said.
Even so, Bradley acknowledged the winner likely will be the player who keeps the ball in the fairway the most.
“The rough is insane,” said Bradley, noting grass that received three inches of rain in recent days. “I don’t know if they haven’t been able to cut it because of how wet it is. I would assume they’re going to try to cut it because it’s chip-out, it’s U.S. Open-style rough. …
“I think you either love this course or you don’t. You know every single time you tee it up here it’s going to be a battle.”
Schauffele favored
BetMGM lists Xander Schauffele, the pride of Scripps Ranch High and San Diego State, as the favorite to win, followed by Collin Morikawa, Homa and Patrick Cantlay.
Schauffele tied for 13th in the Farmers last year. His best finish was in 2021 when he tied for second.
Asked if his local knowledge and being back home provides an advantage, Schauffele said, “I mean, I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight and for the rest of this week, which is nice.
“It definitely feels different, you know what I mean?” he said. “I think whether you put too much pressure on yourself or whether you see a bunch of family and you want to sort of show up for them, you can use that for motivation if you like. There’s some sort of level of comfort when you’re sort of at home. I try to use that to my advantage.”
Worth the wait
The final spots in the field went to the top four finishes at an open qualifying event postponed from Monday to Tuesday at Murrieta’s Bear Creek Golf Club.
Chris Naegel and Chad Hambright shared 7-under 65s. Alex Chiarella and Adam Long were a stroke back at 66.
Long is the most accomplished of the group, having played 150 events and earned more than $7.5 million since ing the Tour five years ago.
His one Tour win came in the 2019 Desert Classic.
