Farmers Insurance Open 2026: My pick to win is the best putter in this field—which might surprise you

Often serving as the unofficial smoke signal for the start of the PGA Tour season for casual fans, the Farmers Insurance Open tees off this week with a star-studded field at Torrey Pines. The South Course, set to host three of the four rounds, stretches to a daunting 7,765 yards and routinely ranks as one of the most difficult scoring venues on the schedule.

Those tougher conditions should be a welcome sight for fans who turned their nose at last week’s birdie-fest in Palm Springs, especially with the field featuring more than half of the players ranked inside the top 25 in the world.

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With past champions returning, an influx of DP World Tour-promoted talent, and a certain five-time major champion in the mix, there’s no shortage of compelling storylines to dig into.

Let’s break down the top 10 contenders to watch as they take on the picture-perfect Pacific coastline in La Jolla, Calif.

David Cannon

Set to make his first start as an official member of the PGA Tour, Marco Penge is ready to showcase his talent and prodigious power to fans in the continental United States.

Penge has recovered from a viral infection that delayed his PGA Tour debut, and Torrey Pines appears to be an ideal fit for the 27-year-old, who should immediately establish himself as one of the longest hitters on tour. After winning two DP World Tour events in the back half of 2025, Penge will look to carry that momentum into California this week.

Homa has been dropping breadcrumbs hinting at a return to form for months, and four consecutive sub-70 rounds at The American Express finally caught my attention. Since reuniting with longtime coach Mark Blackburn, Homa has now gained strokes on approach in eight straight starts.

He’s no stranger to Torrey Pines, having won the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open by two shots. Clearly motivated to play better golf in 2026, Homa has also enjoyed tremendous success in his home state, where four of his six PGA Tour wins have come.

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One of the most captivating storylines in professional golf unfolds this week as Brooks Koepka returns to the PGA Tour. The question is simple: Does Koepka have another run in him?

While his overall tournament history here is underwhelming, Koepka did finish T-4 at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and has long relished events where the difficulty level ramps up. A handful of encouraging DP World Tour starts late in 2025 were a welcome sight after nagging injuries derailed his major championship campaign.

Koepka thrives when the spotlight is brightest, and all eyes will be on him this week. Don’t be surprised if he makes a splash in his first appearance back on the PGA Tour.

Sean M. Haffey

The defending champion returns as Harris English looks to repeat his 2025 Farmers Insurance Open victory. He thrived at Torrey Pines last season thanks to precise iron play and a red-hot putter, despite losing strokes off the tee and missing more than half of the fairways.

English has long been an exceptional putter on Poa annua, the pesky grass featured on the greens this week. He’s also a player I’m comfortable backing on lengthy courses with difficult scoring conditions, as evidenced by his best finishes in 2025.

Despite juggling an overwhelming amount on his plate in 2025, Keegan Bradley surprisingly posted the best season of his career in terms of strokes gained/total. He remains one of the most reliable options in the field when difficulty increases, consistently producing strong results on demanding courses.

Bradley understands the examination Torrey Pines presents, with finishes of T-15 and runner-up since 2023. The combination of his short game and elite long-iron play should once again put him firmly in contention.

Don’t let the intimidating yardage fool you, this tournament can be won with precision over power. Seven of the last eight Farmers Insurance Open winners ranked inside the top five for the week in strokes gained/approach, a category where J.J. Spaun excels.

The 2025 U.S. Open champion now arrives at a course that’s been a USGA staple, fresh off the best season of his career. Add in a T-15 finish here last year, where he gained strokes in every major category, and Spaun looks to once again be a serious contender.

Orlando Ramirez

2025 was a strange year for Ludvig Åberg at Torrey Pines. It began with a first-round lead at the Farmers, only to end in a withdrawal after he succumbed to the flu mid-tournament.

Two weeks later, Åberg returned when the Genesis Invitational shifted to Torrey Pines due to California wildfires, and he left with the trophy. He was forced to withdraw early from The American Express last week, again due to illness, but if he’s healthy, Torrey Pines remains an ideal venue for his world-class skill set.

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Before 2020, Torrey Pines had Xander Schauffele’s number, even as a La Jolla native. Despite growing up playing along the Pacific cliffs, Schauffele missed the cut in four of his first five appearances here in front of friends, family and hometown fans.

Then it clicked. His last four starts read T-2, T-34, T-13 and T-9, totaling an impressive 29-under par across those appearances, a ridiculous number given the course’s difficulty. Making his season debut at a place he clearly loves, Schauffele should have little trouble shaking off any offseason rust.

Nobody goes nuclear quite like Hideki Matsuyama. When his game is clicking, it’s a mystery why he doesn’t contend every week. His success will ultimately hinge on the putter, but the 33-year-old remains one of the premier ball-strikers on the planet.

Matsuyama led the field in strokes gained/approach at the Farmers last season and ranked third tee-to-green at Waialae two weeks ago. He’s known for starting seasons fast, and all signs point toward another PGA Tour victory being well within reach.

Expectations are sky-high for Cameron Young entering 2026 after breaking through with a victory at the Wyndham Championship and delivering an impressive Ryder Cup performance. He now has six consecutive top-10 finishes, cementing his status among the game’s elite.

Young’s best finish at Torrey Pines came back in 2022, when he finished T-20 despite losing more than two strokes on the greens. That’s no longer a concern. In 2026, he ranks as the best putter in the field over his past 50 rounds. Power, precision and putting. Cameron Young checks every box and stands alone as my top contender to win the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open.

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Joe Idone is a Read The Line contributor and host of the Preferred Lines podcast.