San Diego is preparing to welcome PGA Tour players twice over the next four weeks.
Torrey Pines will host next month’s Genesis Invitational, according to multiple reports, after the event was moved from The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades because of this month’s wildfires and the resulting damage.
The annual Farmers Insurance Open is set to begin its four-day run Wednesday at Torrey Pines. The Genesis Invitational is scheduled for Feb. 13-16.
Farmers tournament director Marty Gorsich told the Union-Tribune that he was ed by the PGA Tour near the end of the day Friday, but said as of Monday morning that a final decision had not been reached. He also cautioned that could change quickly.
“No ink on paper, no handshakes, just questions and timing,” Gorsich said.
Late Monday afternoon, Gorsich texted: “Nothing concrete yet. Going to be all about the Pro-am and getting things kicked off here tomorrow, but, hopefully, we get clarity on the other stuff in the next day or two.”
CBS’ Rick Gehman was the first to report this year’s Genesis event would be moving to Torrey Pines.
Gehman tweeted: “I have the understanding that Torrey Pines will be selected to host the Genesis Invitational. The combination of 1) keeping it in California and 2) proximity to the original event — were some of the factors that pushed it over the edge.”
Golfweek reported that the tour is in the “final stages of negotiations” to bring the event to Torrey Pines.
The PGA Tour announced Thursday that this year’s Genesis Invitational would be moved “out of respect for the unfolding situation.” The tour’s statement said a venue update would be forthcoming, though no official announcement has been made.
The Genesis Invitational, which is hosted by Tiger Woods, is among the PGA Tour’s eight “signature” events, with limited fields of the tour’s top players and increased prize money. Its $20 million payout is more than double the $9.3 million being offered this year at the Farmers.
There are dozens of questions to be answered if the tournament is moved to Torrey. Among them:
• Can tournament infrastructure remain in place for the next three weeks, or is it needed elsewhere?
• How will the city be compensated for significant loss in revenue with the course(s) closed to the public for an additional three weeks?
• How will ticketing be done?
• Where do volunteers (more than 1,000 volunteers assist each year with the Farmers) essential for the event come from? Local volunteers are signed up months in advance, but that’s all up in the air with the venue change.
And, perhaps most pressing for golf fans:
Will Woods play? The Genesis was among a handful of tournaments Woods participated in last year, though he withdrew during the second round with flu-like symptoms. Torrey Pines has played a significant role in Woods’ career. He has eight professional victories there (seven Farmers championships, plus the 2008 U.S. Open title), along with a 1991 Junior World title.
Notable
• World No. 5 Collin Morikawa was among six players who withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open over the past two days. Three others in the top 100 world rankings — Akshay Bhatia (31), Mackenzie Hughes (60) and Nicolai Hojgaard (64) — also withdrew, along with Chesson Hadley and Tyler McCumber.
Hojgaard finished second at last year’s Farmers, a stroke behind winner Matthieu Pavon. Bhatia tied for 13th and Hadley tied for 25th.
Among those filling the open spots is Pierceson Coody, a third-generation pro player whose grandfather Charles Coody won the 1971 Masters.
• Pairings for the first two rounds were announced Monday.
The biggest gallery during Wednesday’s opening round could be expected on the South’s first tee at 10:40 a.m. to watch the threesome that includes 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and former Farmers champions Jason Day (2015, 2018) and Max Homa (2023). Matsuyama is currently No. 4 in the world rankings. Day, winner of the 2015 PGA Championship, is ranked No. 33.
Defending Farmers champion Matthieu Pavon will be in the group preceding them, teeing off with Tony Finau and Shane Lowry.
The most notable group Wednesday on the North is the threesome that includes three of the top 20 players in the world rankings — Ludvig Aberg (6), Keegan Bradley (13) and Sahith Theegala (15). They tee off at 9:23 a.m. on the North’s 10th hole.
• San Diegan Charley Hoffman, coming off a fifth-place tie in The American Express, goes off at 8:50 a.m. on North No. 1, with Henrik Norlander and Sami Valimaki.
Two other local products in the field are Michael Kim (9:01 a.m., South No. 10) and J.J. Spaun (9:34 a.m., South No. 1).
Going off on North No. 1 at 9:56 a.m. is Cavin McCall, a local assistant pro at The Santaluz Club and 2024 PGA Southern California section champion.
• The Monday qualifying event at Mission Viejo Country Club produced the final four entrants in the 156-man field. Charles Reiter, who played at the University of San Diego, finished first with a five-under 67, followed by Ryan Hall (68), Jim Knous (68) and Chris Korte (69), who won a three-man playoff.
Reiter finished runner-up in the 2020 California Amateur at Torrey Pines.
