The PGA Tour is ramping up. Some golfers have dipped their toes in the season-opening tournaments, but the Farmers Insurance Open is a stacked field, rife with promising betting opportunities.
We’re breaking down this weekend’s action, highlighting some of our favorite picks and betting spots!
The Course
Since 1968, the Farmers Insurance Open has been held at the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla. The defining characteristic of the tournament is that golfers have to test their mettle at both the North and South courses to make the cut. The field is separated into two groups, with the top-scoring aggregate players being invited to finish the weekend on the South Course.
The North Course is renowned for its picturesque holes, measuring over 500 yards shorter than its brother. It features three par-5s, and given its shorter distance, is typically the lower-scoring of the two.
The South Course is a behemoth, measuring 7,765 yards and ranking as one of the longest courses on the tour. Golfers have to navigate four par-5s, two of which are gargantuan 615 and 621-yard make-or-break holes.
Golfers’ ability to adapt early in the week will be the deciding factor as to whether they make the cut. But the winner will be determined by who can maximize length and make greenside plays to stay low.
Chris Gotterup Climbing the Futures Board
Chris Gotterup is a name that is gaining steam early in 2026. In his lone start this eason, the American won the Sony Open. He shot -16 in Hawaii, earning a two-shot win over Ryan Gerard. Moreover, his analytics profile is well-suited for the challenges at Torrey Pines.
Gotterup is driving the ball well to start the campaign. He avearaged nearly 320 yards off the tee at the Sony Open, albeit with sub-optimal accuracy. That skillset is complemented by 1.273 strokes gained on the greens. If he can keep the ball on the fairway, there may be no denying Gotterup another top finish.
At +2700, Gotterup is a solid mid-range candidate to win the Farmers Insurance Open. Even if he doesn’t claim a second straight victory, bettors may gravitate to him as a plus-money Top 5 finisher.
Gary Woodland: A Longshot Worth Backing
Value bettors may seek refuge in longer candidates at Torrey Pines. One name that jumps off the sheet is Gary Woodland. The American is a distant +12500 on the futures board, but he could be in for a higher-than-anticipated finish in San Diego.
Woodland separates himself from the pack with his long play off the tee. While it’s early in the year, the Kansas native is hammering the ball 327.1 yards per drive, doing so without abandoning accuracy altogether. Surely, that will benefit him on the South Course, which only matters if he’s sticking around throughout the weekend.
As good as he is off the tee, Woodland needs to refine his touch greenside. With -0.321 strokes gained on the green, the American needs to minimize the time with his putter in hand.
A solid ball striker, Woodland is poised to build off his -9 finish last weekend at The American Express Open. He’s a +12500 longshot and could be in the running on Sunday. Still, Top 5, Top 10, or Make the Cut wagers could also be profitable entry points for bettors.
Xander Scheuffele – A Deserving Favorite
Xander Schauffele is making his triumphant return to the field, with his first appearance of the season at Torrey Pines. The La Jolla native is playing close to home and is set up for success at his home course.
Schauffele is a monster off the tee. Last year, he finished 24th on the tour with a 311.9-yard driving distance. Further, he’s one of the best approach golfers, ranking 32nd in approach shots over 200 yards.
Greenside, there is room for improvement, but the difference in a tournament of this magnitude is length. That’s where Schauffele shines. With only one win last season, Schauffele is poised to get off the scheid early at Torrey Pines.
Final Thoughts
More casual fans won’t tune in until later in the season, but diehard fans and bettors see the value in investing early in the PGA season. Our three-pack of golfers is ready to get to work, and we expect Chris Gotterup, Gary Woodland, and Xander Schauffele to be in the running come Sunday.
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