Trio of aces this week in California: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari are in fact playing the Farmers Insurance Open, from today to Sunday, a PGA Tour tournament that takes place on the two Torrey Pines GC (North Course , South Course) in La Jolla, near San Diego. Woods is making his debut in 2020, after the triumphal victory in the Presidents Cup (a kind of Ryder that pits the USA against the rest of the world) experienced as a protagonist both as captain and as a player.
The star player has already won the Farmers seven times, but is still hungry for success and is looking to take home title number 83 on the American tour, to send Sam Snead's record, equaled a few months ago, into the attic. McIlroy is also playing a tournament for the first time this year and after 5 years he aims to climb back to the top of the world rankings, where Brooks Koepka sits comfortably, although suffering from a knee. Finally, Francesco Molinari, after last week's failed cut in American Express, would like to quickly return to 2018 levels.
On the field there are other champions of the caliber of Justin Rose, who defends his title, Jon Rahm, who scored in 2017, Jason Day (two titles at Torrey Pines for him, the last one in 2018), Phil Mickelson, originally from San Diego and three-time trophy winner. And yet Patrick Reed, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, born and raised as a golfer in La Jolla, and the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama. The attentive gaze of Steve Stricker, US captain at the next Ryder Cup (Whistling Straits GC, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, September 25-27) will rest on all the Americans. The prize pool is $7,5 million.
The European Tour instead remains in the United Arab Emirates for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, on the Emirates GC course in Dubai, where six Italians are on the field: Edoardo Molinari, Andrea Pavan, Renato Paratore, Guido Migliozzi, Lorenzo Gagli and Nino Bertasio.
The title is defended by the American Bryson DeChambeau, who doesn't seem in great shape after coming out of the cut last week in the Abu Dhabi Championship. The field that includes Lee Westwood, winner last Sunday in Abu Dhabi, Tommy Fleetwood, Danny Willett, Ian Poulter and Matthew Fitzpatrick, the Spaniard Sergio Garcia, the Swede Henrik Stenson and the German Martin Kaymer is splendid. The prize pool is $3,5 million.
