For the second event in three weeks, my wagers have turned a profit. Not too shabby for a sport that famously features more long odds and infrequent hits than other pieces of action at the sportsbook. Kudos to Taylor Montgomery, who rolled his putts wonderfully and finished in solo fifth. He cashed at +700 for the top-5 finish and +330 for the top-10. The 1.8-unit profit brings us just into the black on the season at +0.1 units.
Torrey Pines is a treasure along the San Diego coastline. The Farmers Insurance Open offers some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet, served with a side of top-tier golf. Many of the best in the world are here to take on the illustrious South Course three times, with one weekday jaunt around the easier North Course squeezed in. A unique twist is the traditional Wednesday start, as to not compete with the NFL’s Championship slate on Sunday.
The Farmers is much more of a measuring stick of recent form with the entire golf bag than last week’s AMEX. Torrey Pines, especially the South Course, is simply the first real test on the Tour schedule. Its par-72 layout stretches to a daunting 7,800 yards from the tips laid along the cliffs of the vast Pacific Ocean. The North Course offers more ocean views but is a much more manageable 7,200 yards and will serve the players 18 holes of scoring relief.
Bettors with access to advanced data metrics tend to get sharper as the season progresses. I am amping up the aggression a tad, putting 9.0 units on the card. There is much more certainty around the Farmers than in previous weeks, along with some really interesting lines. Here is what I’ll be leaning into this week.