News
Phil In Focus – Farmers Insurance Open
With the current absence of the game's greatest current star, there is no question who will be garner most of the attention this week at the Farmers Insurance Open. Certainly Phil Mickelson is used to getting plenty of attention when he plays in San Diego, it is his hometown after-all, but this year will most likely be a little different. The weight of the PGA Tour's profile rests on him with Tiger Woods out of action.
Not only are fans excited because Phil is making his season debut, he will be THE highlight of the field being that he is not only a 3-time winner at this tournament but he will also be the only top-ten player from the Official World Rankings competing. The only players close to him in the rankings that will tee it up at Torrey Pines will be top-20 golfers Robert Allenby and Phil Mickelson. Both will be considered threats but Mickelson is the odds-on favorite.
Lefty is coming off a 3-win season in 2009 where he did a fine job of dealing with family health issues off the course while still getting his work done on the fairways. His last appearance was a win at the World Championships HSBC Champions tournament in early November that he won with a score of 17 under par. It has been reported that he has been working hard on his game since then.
Among the 156 players scheduled to play this week will be Nick Watney, the defending champion. In 2009 Watney beat out John Rollins for the title. He had rallied from 5 shots back to win his 2nd PGA Tour title.
On top of not having Tiger Woods in the field for the 2nd year in a row this event has another big change, the name itself. Intended to be the San Diego Open this year after sponsor Buick declared bankruptcy in 2009, Farmers Exchanges stepped up just a week ago to sign a sponsor deal with the PGA Tour that includes a long term option. Buick had been the sponsor since 1992 and their deal was intended to run through 2010.
"Farmers Insurance has a proud 82-year history of strong leadership and charitable giving," said F. Robert Woudstra, Chief Executive Officer of Farmers. "Leaders step up and step in when opportunities arise and when needs are great. We clearly see this sponsorship as an extension of our ongoing commitment to Southern California, the San Diego area and all the communities across the United States in which we serve our customers."
"Although this has been finalized on such short notice, it represents a substantial investment on Farmers' part to help in the tournament's success," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. "We look forward to continuing our discussions with Farmers officials following the Farmers Insurance Open in regard to the possibility of a longer-term partnership."
Back on the golf course the players will have little interest in who is the event's actual sponsor but most will be relieved that this well-established event is still being played. For 2010 the winner will receive a check for (USD) $972,000 out of a $5.4 Million dollar purse.
Golf Channel will handle Television coverage for rounds 1 and 2 while they will share duties on the weekend with CBS.
—
This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Rory: I’m not joining LIV | Masters ratings | Nelly: We just need a stage
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
- LIKE9
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Aberg: I want to be No. 1 | Rory’s management blasts ‘fake news’ reports
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty