Tiger Woods will make his official return to the PGA Tour this weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open, but he’ll be in tough to make an impact in a loaded field. Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California serves as the setting for the event.
According to oddsmakers, the world No. 1 is the man to beat. Dustin Johnson is the lone +800 favorite at Sportsbook, with Jason Day (+1000), Hideki Matsuyama (+1200), Brandt Snedeker (+2500), Brooks Koepka (+2500), Justin Rose (+2800), Tiger Woods (+2800), Jimmy Walker (+3000), Rickie Fowler (+3000) and Phil Mickelson (+3500) behind him.
Snedeker, who triumphed at the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open, is a two-time champion after winning in 2012. The veteran held off a late surge by K.J. Choi to finish the weekend at 6 under par.
Woods last played in the Farmers in 2015 – one week after imploding at the Phoenix Open – but withdrew in the first round because of a back injury. Eldrick is a noted fan of the course, having won there seven times, including the junior world championship in 1991. The legendary golfer last won a major title at Torrey Pines at the 2008 U.S. Open.
While this isn’t Tiger’s first appearance in 2016-17, it will be the most important one. Woods dazzled out of the gate at the Hero World Challenge in early December and recorded more birdies than anyone else in the 18-man field. The 41-year-old finished well behind the pack after struggling on Sunday, but the Hero World Challenge is not an official PGA Tour event.
Day will be playing in his second tournament since missing over two months with a back injury. The Aussie’s first action this year came at the SBS Tournament of Champions where he finished in a tie for 12th place at 13 under par.