Golf
Farmers Insurance Open Predictions & Betting Tips (2026)
This week the PGA Tour returns to La Jolla, just North of San Diego, for the Farmers Insurance Open at the iconic Torrey Pines venue.
With no Scottie Scheffler on the scene this week, the biggest headliner is Brooks Koepka who makes a much-anticipated return to the tour from LIV Golf at the Farmers.
Will golf’s prodigal son be victorious come Sunday, or will somebody else bag the $1,728,000.00 first prize? While plenty of attention is on the 2026 majors, we’ve got a few months until Augusta National and so the immediate focus is on Torrey Pines.
Here are my five players against the field:
Cameron Young (20/1)
Young had an excellent 2025, picking up his maiden PGA Tour win at the Wyndham Championship before registering five top 10 finishes to close out the season.
His Ryder Cup debut was also impressive, finishing as Team USA’s joint top points scorer and that whole experience can only have enhanced his game coming into 2026.
Young’s Torrey Pines record will need to go up another notch, but he will come into this tournament brimming with confidence.
Chris Gotterup (28/1)
Already a winner this year with a victory in the Sony Open, Chris Gotterup can potentially make it two wins from two 2026 appearances this season.
When you look at the field for this competition, Gutterup has to be in your top five leading please, based upon his elite driving and the way that he has previously navigated his way around this course.
His UK raid last season resulted in a victory in the Scottish Open with a third place finish at Royal Portrush in The Open. Those were both quality results and his love affair with coastal golf courses can continue here.
Maverick McNealy (33/1)
I was impressed by the way McNealy played in Hawaii a fortnight ago and with his decent ball striking record at Torrey Pines, he looks like the kind of player who will give us a decent each-way journey right through until the weekend.
The young Californian went close at Torrey Pines South in the Genesis Invitational last season which makes him a solid pick this week.
Max Homa (45/1)
One of the most intriguing trios teeing off together on Thursday is that of Brooks Koepka, Ludvig Åberg and Max Homa.
Being in that three-ball should hopefully give Homa a flying start to round one as the three players bounce off one another’s hole by hole success.
Homa has played the Farmers Insurance Open six times, recording a victory in 2023, with an average tournament finish of 10th, and an average score of 9-under. I’ll be very surprised if he’s not on the premises come Sunday.
Denny McCarthy (50/1)
McCarthy threatened to make the top 10 at one stage in the American Express, but just fell off the pace a little when the big players like Scheffler stepped on the gas in the closing rounds.
The 32-year-old is still seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory, despite being recognised as one of the best putters on the Tour.
He has of course had some cruel near misses, namely the 2023 Memorial and the 2024 Valero Texas Open where he lost both tournaments in a play-off.
Those of us who sometimes like to play these golf tournaments with a view to bagging a big each-way place, have a strong contender here in the shape of McCarthy.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
