Now that’s a way to end a trophy drought. Thomas Detry romped home to victory by seven strokes at the raucous Phoenix Open, winning his maiden PGA Tour title and ending a trophy drought that dates back to 2018 (where he won the World Cup of Golf playing alongside Thomas Pieters).
2025 US PGA Tour
Signature Event
Genesis Invitational
South Course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California
13th-16th February
He actually created a lovely nugget of history last week, becoming the first Belgian to taste victory on the PGA Tour. This week, the tour moves back to the West Coast for the 3rd Signature Event of the season: the Genesis Invitational. Originally known at the Los Angeles Open, this tournament dates all the way back to 1926. However, this year’s event will look a little different to recent renewals.
Traditionally hosted at the iconic Rivera Country Club, tournament organizers decided to seek an alternative option after the January wildfires ripped through the pacific palisades. The decision was quickly made to host this year’s renewal at the similarly celebrated South Course at Torrey Pines (the traditional host of the Farmers Insurance Open). This is one of those rare occasions where we will visit a course less than a month after hosting an event on it (Harris English won the Farmers Insurance Open in tough conditions last month). Torrey Pines is a notoriously difficult course, hosting the 2008 and 2021 US Open. 2008 US Open champ Tiger Woods is the undisputed king of Torrey Pines, winning seven tournaments her. He was scheduled to play this week but withdrew at the last moment as he continues to grieve the passing of his mother.
Designed by Billy Bell Jr, both the North and South Course were opened in 1957 (the North Course is about 400 yards shorter than the South). The South Course is the pièce de résistance, perennially ranking as one of the most challenging outings on the PGA Tour. It features tight kikuyu fairways and plays nearly 7,800 tards from the tips (it is currently the longest course used on the PGA Tour). This has historically aided the bigger hitters in the field. Recent renewals of the Farmers suggest that driving distance may be less important than strong approach play (and the ability to shape shots). Players will also need to tackle notoriously slippery Poa Annua greens. In fact, ten of the last 14 winners of the Farmers have ranked inside the top ten for Putting Average. Also, Torrery Pines is a course that tends to reward familiarity.
It almost feels like we have two defending champs this week, with Matsuyama looking to defend his Genesis title while Harris English looks to continue his Torrey Pines dominance. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler will look to bounce back after fading away quite poorly TPC Scottsdale. Rory McIlroy is yet to crack the Torrey Pines code and will be desperate to make it back-to-back victories following his triumph at Pebble Beach. Xander Schauffele remains sidelined while the likes of Collin Moirkawa and Ludvig Aberg look to secure their first wins of the season. Defending champ Hideki Matsuyama has already picked up a win this season and should go into this with plenty of confidence.
Past Winners
2024: Hideki Matsuyama (-17)
2023: Jon Rahm (-17)
2022: Joaquin Niemann (-19)
2021: Max Homa (-12) *playoff
2020: Adam Scott (-11)
Past Winners of Farmers Insurance Open hosted by Torrey Pines
2025: Harris English (-8)
2024: Matthieu Pavon (-13)
2023: Max Homa (-13)
2022: Luke List (-15) *playoff
2021: Patrick Reed (-14)
Betting Favourites (To Win): Scottie Scheffler (17/4), Rory McIlroy (7/1), Collin Moirkawa (14/1), Ludvig Aberg (20/1), Hideki Matsuyama (22/1)
Value Bets
Tony Finau- To Win (45/1), To Place (19/2)
Torrey Pines specialist Tony Finau looks like excellent value at 45/1. He missed the cut by four stokes at last month’s Farmers Insurance Open, as he battled to find fairways with his errant driver. But his previous five visits to Torrey Pines yielded results of T6-T9-MC-T2-T6. He looked far more composed in his previous start, finishing T13 at the Signature Event at Pebble Beach. He was 6th in Strokes Gained Putting at Pebble (which could prove vital this week).
Harris English- To Win (60/1), To Place (13/1)
This is a no-brainer selection. English won in tough conditions just a few weeks back and is an absolute steal at 60/1. English has only made one start since the Farmers, finishing well down the field at Pebble Beach. But the South Course at Torrey Pines is a different beast to Pebble. English enjoyed some notable results at Torrey Pines prior to his victory last month, finishing T2 at the 2015 Farmers and solo 3rd at the 2021 US Open. English just has a brilliant game for championship courses such as this.
The Man to Beat- Collin Morikawa- To Win (14/1), To Place (3/1)
Morikawa has only teed it up twice this season, finishing 2nd at the Sentry and 17th at Pebble Beach. He ranked in the top ten for ball-striking across both events (which will obviously come in handy on this monster of a course). Morikawa’s iron play started to click back into gear towards the end of last season and that should come in handy at what is looking to be a rain-soaked Torrey Pines. Morikawa also has excellent form on this course, finishing 4th at the 2021 US Open and 3rd at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open.
