2015 breakout star Jason Day will headline a star-studded field that will be competing in teh 2016 Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines South. The Aussie was simply awesome last season, and capped it off by capturing his very first major in the PGA Championship. Can Day build off his terrific campaign this 2016, starting in Torrey Pines?
For answers to that question, as well as the question of who actually comes out on top in the tournament, let’s seek the help of some top golf experts and check out their picks for the Farmers Insurance Open.
Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out our complete preview of the tournament here, as well as our sleeper picks here.
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Experts Picks and Predictions for the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open
Sports Unbiased
EXPERT
PICK 1
PICK 2
PICK 3
Adam Solowiei
Phil Mickelson
Jason Day
Jimmy Walker
[sc:Golf240banner ]Adam Solowiei at the site Sports Unbiased is a big believer in Phil Mickelson. He believes that Mickelson’s vast experience playing in Torrey Pines, his hometown course, will give him a decent advantage from the rest of the field. He also cites Lefty’s new swing, which helped him to a third-place finish at the recently concluded CareerBuilder Challenge.
Meanwhile, Solowiei is also picking PGA Championship winner Jason Day to continue his upward rise from his career year in 2015. Day also has decent success in this tournament, finishing 9th in 2013 and 2nd in 2014.
Speaking of success, Jimmy Walker has consistently been a contender at the Farmers. He finished 8th in 2012, 4th in 2013, and T7 last year. He’s also had a solid start to this season, so he’s ready to make another run at the title in Torrey Pines.
Golfshake
EXPERT
WINNER
PICK 2
PICK 3
Golfshake Editor
Dustin Johnson
Jason Day
Phil Mickelson
Golfshake’s editor also picked familiar names in Day and Mickelson to be right in contention for the title. However, his pick to win is actually Dustin Johnson. Johnson didn’t make the cut in this event last year, but it should be noted that he was making his return from a lengthy “leave of absence” and his game was probably still a little rusty.
Mr. Editor believes that Torrey Pines is a course that’s tailor-made for Johnson’s game. He’s one of the best drivers of the ball on tour, and if he can get his putting in order, he could just be the man to beat.
US Golf TV
EXPERT
CONTENDER 1
CONTENDER 2
CONTENDER 3
WINNER
Troy Klongerbo
Carlos Ortiz
Brandt Snedeker
Gary Woodland
Patrick Rodgers
Troy Klongerbo of US Golf TV didn’t fare so well with his picks for last week’s CareerBuilder Challenge, but has nonetheless carried on to give his picks for the Farmers Insurance Open. He highlighted three contenders outside of the usual suspects like Day and Mickelson. Those three are Carlos Ortiz, Brandt Snedeker and Gary Woodland.
Ortiz has missed the cut in his last two starts, but Klongerbo cites the Mexican’s past success at Torrey Pines South – he finished T11 in the event last year – and his strong par-4 scoring as reasons why he could make some noise this time around.
Klongerbo also likes Snedeker’s very strong track record at Torrey Pines. From 2007-13, Snedeker finished in the top-10 in six of his eight appearances in Torrey Pines, including a win in 2012.
However, he likes Patrick Rodgers’ chances of winning more. Rodgers hasn’t quite made his mark on tour yet, but this might just be the course where he finally puts it all together. He’s got very good power off the tee, which will help him with the course’s par-5s. He finished 2015 strong with five top-20 finishes in his last five tournaments, and looks poised to continue that good run of form.
