After a very profitable week at the American Express, where our golf expert Craig Edwards (@EdwardsTips_) delivered four winners from six advised bets, Edwards returns with his best bets for the upcoming Farmers Insurance Open.
This week, a trio of California golfers on the comeback trail catch his eye as they compete in their home state.
Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines
There is always a feeling that the PGA Tour is underway when Torrey Pines comes around to host the Farmers Insurance Open, and this year, there is the added spice of Brooks Koepka defecting back to the PGA Tour.
Farmers Insurance takes in the US Open course, Torrey Pines South, for rounds 3 and 4 after sharing hosting duties pre-cut with the much easier North Course.
Torrey Pines South: Course Facts
- Par 72
- 7765 yards
A challenging long Championship test, as you would expect from a US Open track, where 200-yard approach shots are a more regular occurrence than normal.
Poa Annua greens are set on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in California.
Zalatoris: Ready to Rebound or Sustain?
Last week was an impressive one for Will Zalatoris as he continues his comeback from injury and surgery.
That begs the question: can he build this week at Torrey Pines? A track well suited to his game, as a playoff loss to Luke List a few years ago illustrates, or will he bounce as many players do after a huge first week back on tour after a long layoff?
It is worth considering that Zalatoris did have a sneaky DP World Tour start just before Christmas over in South Africa, where he performed promisingly.
Last week’s birdie fest at the American Express is not as well-suited to this elite ball striker who has been agonisingly close to major championships prior to his back injury. Therefore, if his rehabilitation can handle back-to-back weeks, he has a good chance, in theory, this week.
The opening show at Bovada is enough to compensate us for the risk that he does bounce, because if he builds, this week could see Will Zalatoris win his second PGA Tour title.
Golf Pick: Will Zalatoris Outright Win (+5000)
Golf Pick: Will Zalatoris Top 10 (+500)
Max is a Homa bird
Our second Californian golfer on the comeback trail is Max Homa, but unlike Zalatoris, his break in form was not injury-related; it was a terrible slump that has seen him fall from the top 10 of the world rankings to #145.
The multiple winner on tour looks very much on the up and up and is a previous champion of this event, and much of his best career form has come in his home state, with him a winner here, and down the road at the Riviera Country Club and twice in Napa at the old Fortinet Championship.
Six career PGA Tour wins are impressive, but with four of them in California, Homa is worth a second glance as he builds on last week’s impressive season opener at the American Express after a long absence.
Interestingly, Homa is back working with his old coach Mark Blackburn, who was fundamental in much of his previous success, and if Max Homa builds on last week’s impressive season debut, he is the play at Heritage Sports.
Golf Pick: Max Homa Outright Win (+4500)
Golf Pick: Max Homa Top 10 (+450)
Theegala Completes Our Californian Attack Team
Sahith Theegala completes the Californian team of players this week after signs that he is about to break out of his slump.
Last week was another small building block in repairing his confidence after a closing 7-under par round saw him leap up the leaderboard into the top 10 for an eighth-place finish, his first top 10 finish since the close of 2024.
He finished 31st at the Sony Open, and, like his Californian counterparts, he is undoubtedly on the comeback trail.
A 4th-place finish here in 2024 shows that Torrey Pines holds no fears for Theegala; in fact, it holds fond memories, as the twenty-eight-year-old won several times in the top junior events of his young amateur career.
Like our other two selections, take Sahith Theegala in the top 10 and outright markets this week at BetOnline for the Farmers Insurance Open.
Golf Pick: Sahith Theegala Outright Win (+8000)
Golf Pick: Sahith Theegala Top 10 (+800)
Your Farmers Insurance Betting Gameplan
A quick recap of this week’s three selections for the Farmers Insurance:
- Will Zalatoris: Outright (+5000), Top 10 (+500)
- Max Homa: Outright (+4500), Top 10 (+450)
- Sahith Theegala: Outright (+8000) Top 10 (+800)
Securing the best odds is essential in golf wagering. Since odds can differ among sportsbooks, it is advisable to establish accounts with multiple trusted books. This approach allows for effective comparison shopping for prices on outright bets and placement propositions, often the difference between an okay week and a profitable one.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
