Sahith Theegala hits his tee shot on Wednesday on the ninth gap at Torrey Pines’ North Course.
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Jason Day’s in love.
“I like this space,” he stated.
“I like the folks right here.” he added.
“I additionally love the golf match,” he continued.
“And I like the golf course,” he completed.
Inform us how you actually really feel, proper? However are you able to blame him? By most each measurable, San Diego is beautiful, as are San Diegans, as is the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, as is Torrey Pines. You’d wrestle to seek out disagreement — although, at the least this week, that’s not all that’s gone lacking, peculiarly so.
The place are all of the golfers?
To make certain, they’re nonetheless taking part in the PGA Tour occasion, and professionals are nonetheless in San Diego, together with a bunch even an off-the-cuff fan would acknowledge. It’s simply not the sphere you had been anticipating, at the same time as late as final Sunday, when the updates began to come back sooner than you possibly can say Padres. Gone first had been Nicolai Hojgaard, Collin Morikawa and Tyler McCumber. Then Mackenzie Hughes. Then Akshay Bhatia. Then Chesson Hadley. Then Harry Corridor. Then Bronson Burgoon. Then Will Zalatoris. Then Ryan Moore (who had changed Zalatoris.) Then Gary Woodland. Then Braden Thornberry, who pulled out after 9 holes. Then Nate Lashley, who exited after 23. Then Hayden Buckley, who was gone after 27. Then Max Homa, who dropped out after 33. Then Emiliano Grillo, who was completed after 35. A whopping 16 WDs in all, and so they joined a noticeable assortment of stars already at dwelling — 19 of the world’s high 25 are out this week.
All of it naturally had Day reminiscing.
“It was the occasion to come back to,” he stated.
Right here, then, are 11 the reason why some aren’t.
11. Standard WDs
Gamers withdraw each week, and stars sit out each week, and, for some, that may very well be the reason this week.
10. Flu?
In keeping with a number of experiences, a flu bug has discovered its option to Torrey and compelled WDs. Extra may come.
9. Accidents
Would Scottie Scheffler have performed this week? Probably — he performed the Farmers in 2020, ’21 and ’22 — however the world No. 1 stated he injured his proper hand making ravioli over Christmas and underwent surgical procedure. What about Xander Schauffele? He went to school at San Diego State, however the world No. 2 is coping with a rib harm incurred late final yr, based on Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis.
Dropping the world’s high two gamers on this method, clearly, is uncommon.
8. Schedule
This yr marks the third season of the PGA Tour’s limited-field, big-money “Signature Occasion” collection — and the third yr of the Farmers being non-Signature, for lack of a greater time period. What does that imply? Selections.
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The yr’s first occasion, the Sentry, is a Signature Occasion, so if invited, professionals will go. The subsequent two occasions — the Sony Open and the American Specific — are choices for gamers. The fourth occasion is the Farmers, which is adopted by this stretch: AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am, a Signature Occasion; WM Phoenix Open, which yearly attracts among the yr’s largest crowds; and the Genesis Invitational, a Signature Occasion. One thing has to provide.
“You’ve got Pebble subsequent week after which Waste after which the Genesis,” Day stated. “They’re three fairly massive tournaments in a row, and do you wish to play 4 massive tournaments? Like I feel you’ve obtained to grasp that like powerful golf programs, mentally I feel solely — you possibly can solely play — like as a result of Pebble’s clearly a Signature Occasion and most guys aren’t going to overlook that. Waste Administration is a complete beast in itself as a result of it’s a mentally grueling week as effectively, and then you definitely’ve obtained one other Signature Occasion after that in L.A.
“So do you wish to put your self by means of a really, very mentally grueling week this week after which play one other three occasions? I feel most guys’ thresholds are round three, two to 3 weeks in a row.”
7. The Genesis transfer
In regards to the Genesis …
The occasion at Riviera Nation Membership in Los Angeles is being relocated this yr as a result of L.A. wildfires — and a number of shops have reported that its touchdown spot shall be Torrey. Are professionals probably skipping this week, understanding they’ll be again in San Diego in three weeks? It makes some sense. Or possibly not. Day stated he thinks these taking part in this week at Torrey may have an apparent benefit: They’ll be higher ready.
“We get a little bit of a style take a look at of what it’s going to be,” he stated, “and we all know what the situations shall be. …
“Coming off per week at Waste Administration, despite the fact that it’s excellent situations on the market, completely different grass, you’ve obtained overseeded rye on the Waste Administration, you’re coping with crowds after which clearly you’re coming over right here coping with completely different grass. It’s a distinct — it’s heavy air, the density is totally completely different to Scottsdale, so it’s only a completely different sort of recreation out right here.”
6. TGL
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TGL, the tech-infused, simulator league, performed the third week of its first season on Tuesday — and all six of its gamers are out this week. Lacking Torrey are Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Younger and Rickie Fowler.
What did earlier years appear to be for the six? Cantlay and Horschel performed the Farmers final yr. Thomas, Younger and Fowler didn’t, however, in a have a look at latest historical past, Thomas performed in 2023 and ’22, Younger performed in ’22 and ’21, and Fowler performed yearly from 2010 to ’23. Fitzpatrick has by no means performed the Farmers.
5. Hero Dubai Desert Basic
The Hero Dubai Desert Basic, one of many DP World Tour’s greater occasions, was performed final week, that means a 17-or-so-hour flight for Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Adam Scott, the PGA Tour members on the earth’s high 25 who performed within the match.
What does their Farmers observe report appear to be? McIlroy performed in 2019, ’20 and ’21; Hovland performed in 2019 and ’21; Fleetwood has by no means performed it; MacIntyre performed it final yr; and Scott performed in ’19 and ’21.
4. An early begin
Beginning in 2022, the Farmers was moved from a standard Thursday-to-Sunday schedule to a Wednesday-to-Saturday schedule with a purpose to transfer it away from the NFL’s convention championship video games. The end result?
Shorter turnarounds. Sped-up routines. The commute from the American Specific — about 125 miles — is comparatively honest, although.
After all, not everybody remembered why the Tour was taking part in a Wednesday-to-Saturday schedule. When requested if the Wednesday begin was problematic for professionals, Day began his reply this manner:
“I don’t — what’s the reasoning behind ending on Saturday?”
3. Torrey’s issue
The Farmers is performed between Torrey’s North and South programs in the course of the first two rounds, and on the South course for the ultimate 36 holes — that means professionals play 54 in late January on a course that’s hosted U.S. Opens. Most years have simply began at this level, and swings are nonetheless being ironed out.
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“I simply suppose you have a look at it strategically, the schedule — clearly you will have Signature Occasions and main championships and people are on the high and also you type of schedule round that,” stated Charley Hoffman, a San Diego native. “How are you going to be ready for these main championships, the Gamers Championships and the Signature Occasions? How are you going to peak at that cut-off date as a result of the factors are so loaded in these occasions, and individuals are wanting, do I am going play two golf programs, historically very exhausting golf programs and is that one of the best preparation for 2 Signature Occasions I’ve arising?
“Some folks love the problem and it could make these tournaments really feel simpler to them if they arrive out right here and play effectively at Torrey Pines. It simply issues what you’re on the lookout for and what you need.
“Tiger [Woods] would at all times rise as much as the problem. He cherished it right here, he performed right here each yr. He may decide any golf course to play and he selected right here to play. It’s only a matter of what you need. However it’s how are you going to peak and be prepared for these massive, massive tournaments now. It’s only a completely different method to take a look at it with the Signature Occasions, for positive.”
2. No Tiger Woods
Talking of Tiger Woods …
The 15-time main winner hasn’t made a Farmers begin since 2020. However when he performed a daily schedule, professionals went the place Woods went, and Woods was a daily at Torrey, the place he received the 2008 U.S. Open.
“We took it as a right, there’s not a query in my thoughts,” Hoffman stated. “As somebody who’s performed right here for over 30 years, you took it as a right that Tiger Woods was going to indicate up right here, and the town of San Diego was going to have one of the best participant on the earth each yr at its occasion.
“We’re in actuality now with what each different metropolis has to cope with with out Tiger Woods or one of the best participant on the earth taking part in right here.”
Notably, Woods is the host of the Genesis, and he little doubt has had a phrase on whether or not the occasion shall be moved to Torrey.
1. No LIV Golf professionals
Execs with LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed tour that begins its fourth season subsequent month, are nonetheless not allowed to play Tour occasions. 5 LIV professionals have received at Torrey — Patrick Reed, Marc Leishman, Jon Rahm, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson.
The long run?
Is there hope for the long run? Probably. The flu and harm bugs seemingly shall be cleared up. The Genesis ought to return to Riviera subsequent yr. Perhaps the Farmers is moved on the schedule. Perhaps it earns Signature standing. Perhaps Hoffman is called Tour commissioner for a day.
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Say what? He’s considered how he’d assist the occasion, ought to he be boss for twenty-four hours.
“If I had a crystal ball,” Hoffman stated. “I could juggle up the entire schedule, not even play a West Coast Swing on the West Coast, possibly play Florida first and possibly play the West Coast possibly extra in the summertime after we all wish to be in San Diego.
“If I used to be commissioner for a day, I’d check out the schedule and simply jumble all of it up and say the place ought to we begin the PGA Tour season, the place is one of the best time to play these occasions and do we now have to play the entire West Coast on the West Coast proper after one another?
“Perhaps, possibly not. I feel that’s stuff — thank God I’m not on the board or do any of that stuff any longer.”
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