Jon Rahm scored a victory in his second consecutive begin to start 2023 on the American Categorical as a +650 selection, successful by one stroke (-27) over Davis Thompson. Chris Kirk and Xander Schauffele completed T-3 and Taylor Montgomery, considered one of our alternatives, completed fifth. The highest 10 was rounded out by Erik Van Rooyen, J.T. Poston, Matti Schmid, Tom Kim (one other of our alternatives final week) and Robby Shelton.
This week, Rahm, who grew to become the fifth participant to begin a calendar 12 months with consecutive wins over the previous twenty years (Ernie Els, 2003; Tiger Woods, 2006; Tiger Woods, 2008; Justin Thomas, 2017), will attempt to match Tiger’s feat in 2008 when Woods started that 12 months with victories in three consecutive begins. Rahm, at present OWGR No. 3, is the +450 favourite this week on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open. He earned his first PGA Tour {and professional} worldwide win on the 2017 Farmers. Torrey Pines additionally served because the venue for Rahm’s 2021 U.S. Open victory. So he’s the right favourite based mostly on that historical past and since he’s enjoying one of the best golf of anybody on the earth.
Rahm leads a discipline that features 5 of the OWGR High 10 and 9 of the OWGR High 20. San Diego native and present OWGR No. 6 Schauffele (12-1) has a blended report in his hometown occasion. He completed in a five-way T-2 in 2021 however 5 strokes behind eventual victor Patrick Reed. Schauffele additionally completed seventh right here within the 2021 U.S. Open. Nonetheless, he has additionally missed the lower right here 4 occasions in seven appearances. Tony Finau (14-1) additionally has an inconsistent report at Torrey Pines contemplating he has missed the lower in his final two journeys (2022 Farmers, 2021 U.S. Open), but in addition completed in that five-way tie for second with Schauffele in 2021 and has three different top-6 finishes on the Farmers.
Collin Morikawa (16-1) is three weeks faraway from his implosion on the 2023 opener within the Sentry Match of Champions. He completed T-4 at Torrey Pines within the 2021 U.S. Open. Like Morikawa, the OWGR No. 8, Justin Thomas (16-1), the OWGR No. 9, was married final November, though wedding ceremony footage simply surfaced over the previous weekend.
Will Zalatoris (16-1) additionally was lately married, in December, and returns to the venue the place he seemed like he was going to select up his first PGA Tour win earlier than his putter went ice chilly on the again 9 and ultimately misplaced in a playoff to defending Farmers champion Luke Listing (80-1).
Sungjae Im (sixth final 12 months) and Max Homa (ninth in 2020) each have earlier top-10 finishes within the Farmers, and each examine in on the board at 22-1.
Jason Day (25-1) has two victories on this occasion (2015 and 2018) and completed third final 12 months. Day, T-18 final week on the AMEX, was second within the discipline for Strokes Gained: Placing within the two measured rounds on the PGA West Stadium Course.
Montgomery (30-1) already has 4 top-10s in his rookie season on tour courting to final fall. He was only one off the lead on this previous Sunday’s again 9 earlier than failing to birdie the par-5 sixteenth after which hitting a shank off the tee on the par-3 seventeenth and making a double bogey to finish his possibilities at incomes his first victory. He additionally completed eleventh right here final 12 months.
At 40-1, Hideki Matsuyama is an annual customer to Torrey Pines and completed third in 2019. Maverick McNealy completed seventh two weeks in the past on the Sony Open in Hawaii and is all the time somebody to look out for on the West Coast.
Different former Farmers champions on this discipline embrace Justin Rose (66-1), Scott Stallings (125-1), Nick Watney (1000-1), and Ben Crane (2500-1).
The Occasion
The Farmers Insurance coverage Open was based in 1952 because the San Diego Open and was initially performed on the San Diego Nation Membership in Chula Vista. The occasion is organized by the Century Membership of San Diego. The event was performed at a number of programs within the San Diego space earlier than discovering a everlasting dwelling at Torrey Pines Golf Course in 1968. Torrey Pines has hosted a PGA Tour occasion ever since. This occasion additionally had a star host for a few years as entertainer Andy Williams served in that position from 1968 to 1988. The dominant participant on this occasion’s historical past is Tiger Woods, who has gained this occasion seven occasions (1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013), not together with his 2008 U.S. Open championship. Longtime San Diego resident Phil Mickelson is the one participant aside from Woods to win this occasion greater than twice (1993, 2000, 2001). Mickelson and J.C. Snead (1975, 1976) are the one gamers to win this occasion in consecutive years. Arnold Palmer (1957, 1961) and Tom Watson (1977, 1980) are additionally multiple-time winners. This occasion can also be notable for the truth that Jack Nicklaus by no means gained, however he was a part of a memorable end in 1982 as he shot a final-round 64 to fall one shot wanting eventual winner Johnny Miller.
This week’s discipline options 156 gamers, and the lower would be the prime 65 and ties for the weekend.
Like final 12 months, the event will likely be performed Wednesday-Saturday relatively than the standard Thursday-Sunday on account of PGA Tour, and particularly CBS, not eager to oppose the NFL’s AFC and NFC Championship Video games.
The Area
Right here is the 156-player discipline for the Farmers Insurance coverage Open:
Anders Albertson
Tyson Alexander
Byeong Hun An
Ryan Armour
Arjun Atwal
Aaron Baddeley
Erik Barnes
Zac Blair
Michael Block
Keegan Bradley
Joseph Bramlett
Ryan Brehm
Scott Brown
Hayden Buckley
Dean Burmester
Jonathan Byrd
Cameron Champ
Wyndham Clark
Eric Cole
Trevor Cone
Austin Prepare dinner
Ben Crane
MJ Daffue
Cam Davis
Jason Day
Thomas Detry
Zecheng Dou
Jason Dufner
Tyler Duncan
Nico Echavarria
Austin Eckroat
Harrison Endycott
Harris English
Tony Finau
Rickie Fowler
Dylan Frittelli
Brice Garnett
Robert Garrigus
Doug Ghim
Michael Gligic
Will Gordon
Tano Goya
Brent Grant
Cody Gribble
Ben Griffin
Lanto Griffin
Emiliano Grillo
Invoice Haas
Adam Hadwin
James Hahn
Paul Haley II
Harry Corridor
Cole Hammer
Nick Hardy
Scott Harrington
Jim Herman
Michael Herrera
Garrick Higgo
Harry Higgs
Lee Hodges
Charley Hoffman
J.B. Holmes
Max Homa
Beau Hossler
Sungjae Im
Stephan Jaeger
Michael Kim
S.H. Kim
Si Woo Kim
Harrison Kingsley
Kurt Kitayama
Patton Kizzire
Philip Knowles
Satoshi Kodaira
Kelly Kraft
Martin Laird
Hank Lebioda
Danny Lee
Spencer Levin
David Lingmerth
Luke Listing
Adam Lengthy
Justin Decrease
Peter Malnati
Ben Martin
Hideki Matsuyama
Brandon Matthews
William McGirt
Maverick McNealy
Taylor Montgomery
Taylor Moore
Collin Morikawa
Trey Mullinax
Sebastián Muñoz
Keita Nakajima
Matthew NeSmith
S.Y. Noh
Henrik Norlander
Vincent Norrman
Andrew Novak
Augusto Núñez
Sean O’Hair
Ryan Palmer
Taylor Pendrith
Cameron Percy
Scott Piercy
Jon Rahm
Aaron Rai
Doc Redman
Davis Riley
Patrick Rodgers
Justin Rose
Kevin Roy
Sam Ryder
Rory Sabbatini
Xander Schauffele
Adam Schenk
Matti Schmid
Taiga Semikawa
Robby Shelton
Alex Smalley
Austin Smotherman
J.J. Spaun
Scott Stallings
Kyle Stanley
Brendan Steele
Sam Stevens
Robert Streb
Kevin Streelman
Brian Stuard
Justin Suh
Caleb Surratt
Adam Svensson
Callum Tarren
Ben Taylor
Sahith Theegala
Justin Thomas
Davis Thompson
Michael Thompson
Martin Coach
Kevin Tway
Jhonattan Vegas
Camilo Villegas
Joey Vrzich
Jimmy Walker
Nick Watney
Patrick Welch
Trevor Werbylo
Richy Werenski
Kyle Westmoreland
Gary Woodland
Dylan Wu
Carson Younger
Kevin Yu
Carl Yuan
Will Zalatoris
High 50 gamers in 2023 Farmers Insurance coverage Open discipline
3. Jon Rahm
6. Xander Schauffele
7. Will Zalatoris
8. Collin Morikawa
9. Justin Thomas
12. Tony Finau
16. Max Homa
19. Sungjae Im
20. Hideki Matsuyama
25. Keegan Bradley
40. Si Woo Kim
41. Sahith Theegala
43. Kurt Kitayama
The Course
The Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla is a 36-hole public course owned by the Metropolis of San Diego. Two programs host the occasion. The North Course and South Course every host the primary two rounds with every participant enjoying each programs earlier than the South Course takes over for the ultimate 36 holes. The South Course, which was renovated in 2019 by Rees Jones earlier than the 2021 U.S. Open, is now the longest annual course on the PGA Tour at 7,765 yards. Each programs play at a par-72, however the South Course is the harder of the 2 because the North Course is simply 7,258 yards. The South Course just isn’t solely 450 yards longer however performs on common shut to 2 strokes increased. The fairways (third narrowest on tour at 26.2 sq. ft common) and tough on the South Course are Kikuyugrass however with a Ryegrass overseed, whereas the Tom Weiskopf redesigned North Course has Ryegrass overseed fairways and a Rye and Kikuyugrass tough combination. The South Course greens (sixth smallest on Tour at 5,000 sq. ft) are quicker (12.5 stimpmeter) Poa Annua, whereas the North Course greens are slower (10.5 stimpmeter) and bigger (6,000 sq. ft) Bentgrass.
Torrey Pines South performed because the ninth-most-difficult course final season with a median spherical rating of 72.55 (+0.55 over par) and will play harder for the reason that Torrey Pines space has obtained nearly 5 inches of rain over the primary three weeks of the 12 months. Whereas that may make the greens a lot softer, it additionally will make already thickish tough (3.5″) much more troublesome and longer. There are 82 bunkers on the course and just one water hazard gap on the format.
Torrey Pines North performed because the seventh-easiest course on tour final 12 months with a median spherical rating of 70.15 (-1.85). It’s a extra tree-lined format that has simply 42 bunkers (third fewest on TOUR) and 0 water hazard holes.
The redesigned North Course report is 62 set by Rahm (first spherical, 2019), Ryan Palmer (second spherical, 2020), once more final 12 months by Adam Schenk and Alex Smalley (each in second spherical).
Correlated programs to the North Course embrace Riviera, Chapultepec, Silverado, TPC Scottsdale and Detroit Golf Membership.
The South Course report is 62 set by Woods (third spherical, 1999).
Correlated programs to the South Course embrace Glen Abbey, Muirfield Village, Riviera, Augusta Nationwide, Quail Hole, Chapultepec, Olympia Fields and Bethpage Black.
Listed here are the rating averages lately on the North and South Programs
|
Yr
|
North Course
|
South Course
|
Distinction
|
|
2022
|
70.15 (-1.85)
|
72.55 (+0.55)
|
+2.40
|
|
2021
|
70.13 (-1.87)
|
73.34 (+1.34)
|
+3.21
|
|
2020
|
70.58 (-1.42)
|
72.53 (+0.53)
|
+1.95
|
|
2019
|
69.84 (-2.16)
|
71.73 (-0.27)
|
+1.89
|
|
2018
|
71.41 (-0.59)
|
72.81 (+0.81)
|
+1.40
|
|
2017
|
71.28 (-0.72)
|
72.77 (+0.77)
|
+1.49
|
|
2016
|
70.93 (-1.07)
|
74.50 (+2.50)
|
+3.57
|
|
2015
|
70.23 (-1.77)
|
73.52 (+1.52)
|
+3.29
|
|
2014
|
70.24 (-1.76)
|
73.80 (+1.80)
|
+3.56
|
|
2013
|
70.67 (-1.33)
|
72.66 (+0.66)
|
+1.99
|
Whereas the latest Weiskopf redesign has by and enormous made the North Course barely harder, you may see that gamers should benefit from the better format to place themselves into rivalry.
From 2011 to 2018, all Farmers Insurance coverage Open winners began on the harder South Course on Thursday, then performed the North Course on Friday. Nonetheless, this pattern got here to a screeching halt in 2019 when Justin Rose shot 9 beneath (63) on the North Course within the Thursday spherical after which ran away with the occasion. In 2020, Marc Leishman started on the North Course with a 4-under 68, and Patrick Reed began with an 8-under 64 on the North in 2021. Luke Listing started the 2022 occasion on the South Course with a 5-under 65, so it appears to be like like several draw bias has no less than been briefly eradicated.
Current Historical past/Winners
2022: Luke Listing (-15/273); 90-1*
2021: Patrick Reed (-14/274); 25-1
2020: Marc Leishman (-15/273); 55-1
2019: Justin Rose (-21/267); 14-1
2018: Jason Day (-10/278); 22-1**
2017: Jon Rahm (-13/275); 55-1
2016: Brandt Snedeker (-6/282); 18-1
2015: Jason Day (-9/279); 14-1***
2014: Scott Stallings (-9/279); 250-1
2013: Tiger Woods (-14/274); 15-2
2012: Brandt Snedeker (-16/272); 22-1****
2011: Bubba Watson (-16/272); 66-1
2010: Ben Crane (-13/275); 80-1
Playoff win over Luke Listing – *
Playoff win over Alex Noren and Ryan Palmer – **
Playoff win over Harris English, JB Holmes and Scott Stallings – ***
Playoff win over Kyle Stanley – ****
Tendencies and Angles
Listed here are some latest Farmers Insurance coverage Open successful developments:
12 of the final 14 winners had made no less than one begin within the calendar 12 months.
19 of the final 21 winners had been age 27 or older.
13 of the final 18 winners had been ranked within the High 33 of the OWGR.
25 of the final 29 winners had no less than 4 earlier profession wins.
19 of the final 21 winners had performed in no less than 5 earlier Farmers Insurance coverage Open occasions.
16 of the final 18 winners had no less than one earlier Farmers Insurance coverage Open top-10 end.
Statistical Evaluation
With three of the 4 rounds being performed on the considerably longer South Course, Driving Distance will likely be necessary right here. The cooler January air and the thick marine layer mixed with much less roll from the fairways due to the moisture within the grass from the latest rain will make distance much more paramount. 4 of the previous 11 winners ranked first or second for the week in Driving Distance.
Driving Distance Gained (Final 24 rounds)
Brandon Matthews 21.4
Cameron Champ 19.4
Wyndham Clark 19.2
Matti Schmid 19.1
Trevor Cone 16.9 (17 Rounds)
Trey Mullinax 15.7
Thomas Detry 15.6
Taylor Pendrith 15
Callum Tarren 14.9
Dean Burmester 14.6
Will Gordon 14.1
Luke Listing 12.7
Kyle Westmoreland 12.6
Jon Rahm 12.3
Erik Barnes 11.9
Will Zalatoris 11.7
Davis Thompson 11.6
Cam Davis 11
Augusto Nunez 10.4
Jhonattan Vegas 10.2
Byeong Hun An 10.2
Kurt Kitayama 10.1
Gary Woodland 10.1
Observe: Yards Gained Per Drive
Driving Accuracy is without doubt one of the most troublesome on tour at 52%. Hitting fairways just isn’t a prerequisite for achievement at Torrey Pines however needs to be no less than examined. Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee combines distance with accuracy.
Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee (Final 24 rounds)
Jon Rahm 19.5
Taylor Pendrith 19.2
Hayden Buckley 18.5
Cameron Champ 15.4
Will Zalatoris 15.3
Will Gordon 14.7
Kevin Yu 14.5
Sungjae Im 14.1
Dean Burmester 14
Gary Woodland 13.8
Luke Listing 13.5
Wyndham Clark 13.1
Brett Grant 12.9
Taylor Montgomery 12.5
Davis Thompson 12.3
Brendan Steele 11.3
Tony Finau 10.8
Austin Eckroat 10.2
Patrick Rodgers 10.2
Keegan Bradley 9.9
Collin Morikawa 9.1
4 of the final six Farmers winners ranked fifth or higher for Strokes Gained: Strategy throughout their successful weeks.
Strokes Gained: Strategy (Final 24 rounds)
Si Woo Kim 19.5
Jason Day 18.6
Xander Schauffele 18.4
James Hahn 18.3
Will Zalatoris 18.2
Ben Griffin 17
Brendan Steele 15.8
Alex Smalley 15.8
Collin Morikawa 15.6
Matthew NeSmith 15.3
Ben Martin 13.6
Lanto Griffin 13.2
Danny Lee 13.1
Callum Tarren 12.9
Trey Mullinax 12.5
Nick Hardy 12.5
Adam Hadwin 12
Tony Finau 11
Robby Shelton 9.4
Adam Svensson 9.2
Seung-yul Noh 9
Fifty-five p.c of second photographs at Torrey Pines are from 175 yards or larger and extra this week ought to come from 200+ yards. In 2022, all top-10 finishers on the Farmers gained in Proximity 200+. In 2021, seven of the highest 9 finishers gained Proximity from 200+. In 2019: Justin Rose gained and was second greatest within the discipline from 200+, and in 2018 all Top11 finishers gained Proximity from 200+.
Proximity Gained 200+ Yards (Final 24 rounds)
Patton Kizzire 24.5
Xander Schauffele 23.7
Sungjae Im 23.3
Matti Schmid 23 (16 Rounds)
Thomas Detry 21.3
Austin Eckroat 20.9
Gary Woodland 18.4
Dean Burmester 17.5
Erik Barnes 17.1 (20 Rounds)
Michael Gligic 16.4
Justin Suh 16.2
Austin Smotherman 16
Adam Svensson 15.8
Nick Hardy 15.3
Wyndham Clark 14.7
Max Homa 14.2
Robert Streb 14.2
Seung-yul Noh 13.6
Collin Morikawa 13.2
Carl Yuan 13.2 (17 Rounds)
Dylan Wu 12.8
Brandon Matthews 12
Observe: Common Toes Gained Per Shot
The final three Farmers winners ranked sixth or higher from the sector for Scrambling throughout their respective successful weeks. The Scrambling proportion over the past 5 years is 52.3%, which is 29% lower than the tour common over the past 5 years.
Scrambling Gained (Final 24 rounds)
Maverick McNealy 13.5
Hideki Matsuyama 11.9
Kurt Kitayama 9.5
Joseph Bramlett 9.3
Aaron Baddeley 8.7
Ben Taylor 8.6
Harry Corridor 7.9
Arjun Atwal 7.1
Max Homa 7
Cameron Percy 6.9
Jason Day 6.6
Xander Schauffele 6.2
Jonathan Byrd 6
Wyndham Clark 5.8
Robby Shelton 5.5
Tony Finau 5.4
Beau Hossler 5.1
Brice Garnett 5.1
Poa greens could be the hardest for a lot of gamers to putt on as a result of their bumpy nature plus quicker pace.
Strokes Gained: Placing Poa Annua (Final 24 rounds)
Xander Schauffele 19.2
Zac Blair 18
Jon Rahm 16.8
Wyndham Clark 16.6
Jimmy Walker 16.5
Max Homa 16
Maverick McNealy 15.1
Brice Garnett 13.1
John Huh 12.5
Justin Rose 12.1
JB Holmes 10.4
Sungjae Im 9.5
Scott Harrington 9.2
Adam Lengthy 8.9
Peter Malnati 8.3
Brian Stuard 7.8
Rory Sabbatini 7.4
Kelly Kraft 7
Pars are good scores right here, particularly on the North Course. Bogey Avoidance is 15% harder at Torrey Pines than the PGA Tour common.
Bogeys Averted (Final 24 rounds)
Maverick McNealy 20.8
Jason Day 19.4
Lanto Griffin 18.2
Si Woo Kim 17.7
Xander Schauffele 15.7
JJ Spaun 15.3
Wyndham Clark 15.2
Ben Taylor 15
Aaron Baddeley 14.9
Adam Hadwin 14.4
Tony Finau 13.9
Cameron Percy 13
Sahith Theegala 12.8
Thomas Detry 12.6
Sungjae Im 12.5
Rickie Fowler 12.4
Taylor Moore 10.4
Emiliano Grillo 10.3
Kurt Kitayama 9.7
Will Zalatoris 9
Six of the ten par-4s on the South Course measure 450-500 Yards.
Strokes Gained Par-4s 450-500 Yards (Final 24 rounds)
Maverick McNealy 27.4
Jon Rahm 12.9
Taylor Montgomery 12.8
Kurt Kitayama 11.9
Hayden Buckley 11.8
Sungjae Im 11
Stephan Jaeger 10.5
Sam Stevens 10.5
Wyndham Clark 10.4
Kelly Kraft 10.1
Davis Riley 10.1
Ben Griffin 10
Jason Day 9.8
Ben Taylor 9.5
Will Zalatoris 8.1
Taylor Moore 8.1
Sam Ryder 7.9
Trey Mullinax 7.6
Tony Finau 7.6
Keegan Bradley 7.2
Ryan Palmer 7
All 4 par-5s at Torrey Pines South measure over 560 yards.
Strokes Gained Par-5s (Final 24 rounds)
Kyle Westmoreland 19.4
Xander Schauffele 17.5
Dean Burmester 15.8
Garrick Higgo 15.6
Davis Thompson 15.3
Eric Cole 14.8
Cameron Champ 14.5
Alex Smalley 13.7
Adam Hadwin 13.7
Sungjae Im 13.3
Cam Davis 12.9
Taylor Pendrith 11.8
Patrick Rodgers 11.2
Stephan Jaeger 10.4
Jon Rahm 10.1
Kevin Yu 9.3
Wyndham Clark 8.6
Tony Finau 8.3
Will Zalatoris 7.8
Justin Thomas 7.7
Torrey Pines South almost performs at 7,800 yards and performs as one of many harder programs on tour.
Strokes Gained: Lengthy and Tough Programs (Final 24 rounds)
Xander Schauffele 53.5
Hideki Matsuyama 44.5
Will Zalatoris 44.3
Jon Rahm 42
Si Woo Kim 33.6
Justin Thomas 32.8
Ryan Palmer 32.6
Jason Day 31.6
Charley Hoffman 31.5
Justin Rose 25.7
Rory Sabbatini 24.9
Keegan Bradley 23.8
Sungjae Im 23.5
Aaron Baddeley 23.3
Adam Schenk 20.7
Harris English 20.5
Gary Woodland 17.8
Collin Morikawa 17.6
Tony Finau 17.1
Luke Listing 17
Alternatives
Xander Schauffele (12-1, BetMGM)
San Diego native Schauffele has a blended report in his hometown. Nonetheless, he is available in with some momentum having shot a Sunday 62 on the AMEX to complete T-3.
That end ought to alleviate issues about his again, which compelled his early WD on the Sentry three weeks in the past.
Schauffele is at his greatest on classical programs and is aware of the difficult Poa Annua greens in addition to anybody.
Tony Finau (14-1, BetMGM)
In eight appearances at Torrey Pines, Finau has failed to complete within the High 25 solely as soon as, when lacking the lower final 12 months. Finau has completed prime 6 right here on 4 events, with a better of second in 2021.
Over his final 9 begins, Finau has three victories and three different top-10 finishes.
Finau ranks No. 1 in each Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Inexperienced and Strokes Gained: Ball Placing over the past 36 rounds and has gained with the putter in every of his final 9 begins.
Will Zalatoris (18-1, Bet365)
Jon Rahm shot 33 beneath par final 12 months on the Sentry Match of Champions and nonetheless misplaced by one stroke. This 12 months, he bought his payback and gained the occasion. Maybe the identical is coming for Zalatoris as he ought to have gained this occasion final 12 months if not for the putter letting him down on the again 9.
Zalatoris just isn’t the kind of participant who wins birdie fests however is the sort who thrives on classical-type programs like Torrey Pines.
He has finishes of second (2022) and seventh (2021) right here.
Maverick McNealy (40-1, BetMGM)
McNealy is a two-time runner-up on the PGA Tour with each seconds coming within the state of California.
He already has three top-10s already this season, together with a T7 final trip on the Sony Open.
McNealy is arguably one of the best scrambler within the discipline and among the finest Poa putters on the PGA Tour.
Justin Rose (66-1, BetMGM)
Rose is a former winner right here (2019) and has completed eighth or higher at Torrey Pines in 4 of his final six appearances.
He at present sits exterior the OWGR High 50 and is making an attempt to qualify not just for all of the majors but in addition for the European Ryder Cup staff for doubtless the ultimate time as most of his Euro contemporaries have left for LIV Golf.
Rose posted three rounds of 67 or higher final week and closed the occasion with a powerful 65 on the American Categorical.
Wyndham Clark (85-1, Boyd Sports activities)
Clark’s greatest end right here is simply a thirty second, however he has the right combination of bombing off the tee and placing on Poa Annua to doubtlessly contend.
He charges third on this discipline for Driving Distance Gained, fourth for Strokes Gained: Placing Poa Annua and seventh for Bogey Avoidance.
Dean Burmester (125-1, BetMGM)
Burmester earned his full-time PGA Tour card final fall with an impressive efficiency within the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and will likely be enjoying most of his golf stateside this 12 months.
The South African has 9 skilled wins totally on the Sunshine Tour in his dwelling nation (two on the DPWT) and has three top-7 finishes within the fall between the PGA and DPWT.
He is without doubt one of the largest hitters within the sport and his size ought to show to be a bonus on the South Course in his debut this week at Torrey Pines.
Matchups (4-2 season)
Sahith Theegala -130 over Kurt Kitayama
Dean Burmester -115 over Emiliano Grillo
Max Homa -120 over Taylor Montgomery
Hero Dubai Desert Traditional
The DP World Tour started its 2023 season final weekend beginning the Center East swing on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. It additionally opened with a winner for this column as Frenchman Victor Perez gained for us at 35-1 (the market opened anyplace from 50-1 to 55-1).
The shot of his life!@v_perez2 leads by two with one to play.#ADGolfChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/D9NGAuyBLv
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 22, 2023
Perez spun a bunker shot again into the outlet for birdie at No. 17 and celebrated wildly on the way in which to capturing 6-under 66 for a one-stroke victory on the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday, incomes him his third and simply largest DP World Tour title. After the spherical, he referred to as it “most likely the best shot I’ve ever hit.”
The Frenchman, 35-1 to finish the Abu Dhabi-Dubai sweep, completed -18 and one stroke forward of Min Woo Lee and Sebastian Soderberg. Padraig Harrington was trying to turn into the oldest participant to win on the DP World Tour however settled for fourth. Francesco Molinari and Alex Noren completed T-5 whereas Tyrrell Hatton, Shubhankar Sharma and Jason Scrivener completed T-7.
This week, the DP World Tour stays within the UAE with the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional. Two-time DDC champion and OWGR No. 1 Rory McIlroy (2009, 2015) makes his common calendar 12 months debut this week at Dubai. McIlroy, the overwhelming favourite at +350, arguably has a rating to settle with this occasion contemplating he ought to have gained the occasion however elected to go for the inexperienced in two over water on the 72nd gap and ended up moist. He ended up third and missed the playoff (gained by Viktor Hovland over Richard Bland) altogether.
Hatton (12-1) gained within the Emirates two years in the past in Abu Dhabi and has three top-4 finishes right here together with a fourth final 12 months. Shane Lowry (16-1) co-held the 54-hole lead with Min Woo Lee (22-1 this week) and Francesco Molinari (35-1 this week) final week in Abu Dhabi however struggled to a 76 after ending bogey-bogey-triple bogey-bogey to complete T-28. Tommy Fleetwood (18-1) is a two-time winner within the Emirates with consecutive wins in Abu Dhabi (2017, 2018) however seeks his first win in Dubai.
Robert MacIntyre (25-1) completed third right here in 2021. Adrian Meronk (33-1) completed T-10 final week in Abu Dhabi and was fourth right here final 12 months.
Lucas Herbert was the 2020 champion right here in Dubai. He’s priced at 35-1 together with Thomas Pieters, who missed the lower final week in protection of his Abu Dhabi title.
The Occasion
The Dubai Desert Traditional was based in 1989 and have become the primary European Tour occasion to be staged within the Arabian Peninsula, the place it’s now considered one of six occasions to be performed there. The event was created by a Dubai authorities golf program to develop and promote skilled and informal golf tourism within the metropolis of Dubai and all through the United Arab Emirates. The occasion can also be notable as a result of it was one of many first tournaments to embrace the idea of paying look charges to draw prime gamers. That technique has proved to be largely profitable because the record of winners embrace many large names together with Tiger Woods (2006, 2008), Rory McIlroy (2009, 2015), Ernie Els (1994, 2002, 2005) and different main champions corresponding to Seve Ballesteros (1992), Fred {Couples} (1995), Jose Maria Olazabal (1998), Mark O’Meara (2004), Henrik Stenson (2007), Danny Willett (2016) and Sergio Garcia (2017). This occasion can also be notable by way of the way it modified the way in which we watch golf on tv. The Dubai Desert Traditional was the primary occasion televised dwell on Golf Channel when the community was based in January 1995. Hero MotoCorp, a motorbike and scooter producer based mostly in New Delhi, India, takes over because the event’s title sponsor. The occasion additionally has been upgraded to a Rolex Collection occasion with an elevated prize fund of $9 million.
The Area
Ludvig Aberg
Issa Abou El Ela
Abraham Ancer
Marcus Armitage
Adri Arnaus
Oliver Bekker
Wil Besseling
Alexander Björk
Thomas Bjørn
Richard Bland
Dan Bradbury
Julien Brun
Rafa Cabrera Bello
Jorge Campillo
John Catlin
Aaron Cockerill
George Coetzee
Nicolas Colsaerts
Sean Crocker
Louis De Jager
Luke Donald
Jamie Donaldson
Hennie Du Plessis
Victor Dubuisson
Nacho Elvira
Ewen Ferguson
Ross Fisher
Tommy Fleetwood
Grant Forrest
Ryan Fox
Jeremy Freiburghaus
Stephen Gallacher
Daniel Gavins
Gavin Inexperienced
Julien Guerrier
Chase Hanna
Justin Harding
Padraig Harrington
Tyrrell Hatton
Marcus Helligkilde
Lucas Herbert
Angel Hidalgo
Calum Hill
Nicolai Højgaard
Rasmus Højgaard
Sam Horsfield
Daan Huizing
Scott Jamieson
Jazz Janewattananond
Miguel Ángel Jiménez
Andrew Johnston
Matthew Jordan
Masahiro Kawamura
Maximilian Kieffer
Nathan Kimsey
Marcus Kinhult
Søren Kjeldsen
Alexander Knappe
Espen Kofstad
Mikko Korhonen
Jacques Kruyswijk
Joakim Lagergren
Romain Langasque
Pablo Larrazábal
David Legislation
Thriston Lawrence
Min Woo Lee
Alexander Levy
Haotong Li
Zander Lombard
Hurly Lengthy
Shane Lowry
Joost Luiten
Robert Macintyre
Richard Mansell
Rory Mcilroy
Tom Mckibbin
Adrian Meronk
Guido Migliozzi
Edoardo Molinari
Francesco Molinari
James Morrison
Lukas Nemecz
Niklas Nørgaard
Shaun Norris
Thorbjørn Olesen
Adrian Otaegui
Yannik Paul
Matthieu Pavon
Eddie Pepperell
Victor Perez
Thomas Pieters
Ian Poulter
Tapio Pulkkanen
Richie Ramsay
Patrick Reed
Jc Ritchie
Antoine Rozner
Kalle Samooja
Marcel Schneider
Jason Scrivener
Jack Senior
Shubhankar Sharma
Callum Shinkwin
Jordan Smith
Sebastian Söderberg
Matthew Southgate
Henrik Stenson
Sepp Straka
Ockie Strydom
Andy Sullivan
Connor Syme
Santiago Tarrio
Michael Thorbjornsen
Sami Välimäki
Darius Van Driel
Johannes Veerman
Nicolai Von Dellingshausen
Matt Wallace
Justin Walters
Jeunghun Wang
Paul Waring
Marc Warren
Lee Westwood
Dale Whitnell
Bernd Wiesberger
Oliver Wilson
Jeff Winther
Ashun Wu
Fabrizio Zanotti
High 50 gamers in 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Traditional discipline
1. Rory McIlroy
21. Shane Lowry
24. Tommy Fleetwood
26. Tyrrell Hatton
27. Sepp Straka
30. Ryan Fox
34. Abraham Ancer
39. Thomas Pieters
50. Min Woo Lee
The Course
The Majlis Course on the Emirates Golf Membership has hosted the Dubai Desert Traditional yearly, aside from 1999 and 2000, since its inception in 1989. This observe, a par-72 of seven,428 yards, is an uncovered desert format designed by Karl Litten that’s shorter than final week’s Abu Dhabi course and contains a number of dogleg holes that present a bit extra of a strategic check the place wind can play extra of an element because it did final 12 months. Be on alert for potential draw biases because the afternoon groupings usually take care of considerably stronger winds than the morning groupings. The Bermuda greens are comparatively fast (12-13 on the stimpmeter). There are 4 par-5s on the course, however three of them are on the again 9.
Current Historical past/Winners
2022: Viktor Hovland (-12/276); 10-1*
2021: Paul Casey (-17/271); 25-1
2020: Lucas Herbert (-9/279); 200-1**
2019: Bryson DeChambeau (-24/264); 10-1
2018: Haotong Li (-23/265); 110-1
2017: Sergio Garcia (-19/269); 20-1
2016: Danny Willett (-19/269); 40-1
2015: Rory McIlroy (-22/266); 7-2
2014: Stephen Gallacher (-16/272); 45-1
2013: Stephen Gallacher (-22/266); 70-1
2012: Rafael Cabrera-Bello (-18/270); 125-1
2011: Alvaro Quiros (-11/277); 16-1
2010: Miguel Angel Jimenez (-11/277); 66-1***
Playoff win over Richard Bland – *
Playoff win over Christiaan Bezuidenhout – **
Playoff win over Lee Westwood – ***
Alternatives
Tommy Fleetwood (18-1, BetMGM)
Regardless of ending twelfth right here final 12 months, Fleetwood led the sector for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Inexperienced and Strokes Gained: Strategy.
A disappointing outing at Abu Dhabi after captaining the GBI aspect on the Hero Cup could be excused. Regardless of McIlroy being the right favourite right here, Fleetwood has drifted up a bit an excessive amount of available in the market.
Min Woo Lee (22-1, BetMGM)
Min Woo missed the lower right here in his solely look two years in the past however is a a lot higher-class participant in 2023.
He completed T-2 final week and was top-6 within the discipline for each Strategy and Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Inexperienced.
Robert MacIntyre (26-1, Boyd Sports activities)
MacIntyre may need been in rivalry final week if not for his putter.
Regardless of main the sector for Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee and being third Tee-To-Inexperienced, Bobby Mac was 63rd of 68 gamers that made the lower in placing.
Adrian Meronk (33-1, BetRivers)
Meronk completed fourth right here final 12 months and was T-10 final week in Abu Dhabi.
Like Perez final week, there may be room for youthful European gamers to make their case for making the Ryder Cup staff. Meronk gained twice in 2022, together with final December on the Australian Open.
Thorbjorn Olesen (80-1, PointsBet)
Olesen has good type right here with 4 finishes of eighth or higher over the past 10 years.
The Dane revitalized his profession final 12 months with a victory on the British Masters, his first win in 4 years.
