PGA Tour Tips: Watch out for Finau, Zalatoris and Pendrith at Torrey Pines

I overlooked Jon Rahm last week to seek value elsewhere, but it is impossible to ignore the big Spaniard at this week’s PGA Tour event - the Farmers Insurance Open.

While Taylor Montgomery’s fifth-place finish was a decent return at La Quinta, Rahm’s fourth win in his last six starts means he’s once again the hot favourite at Torrey Pines. Taking third here could be enough to see him overtake Rory McIlroy, who gets his year underway in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, at the top of the world rankings.

World ranking tension, not to mention fatigue, looks to be the biggest threat to Rahm winning for a third time at Torrey Pines. Can he win in back-to-back weeks for the first time after failing on his two previous attempts? If there’s a venue where he can do it, it’s the La Jolla clifftop beauty. Not only was it the scene of his first PGA Tour win in 2017, it’s also where he won the US Open in 2021.

Jon Rahm: favourite to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines

With 82 top-10 finishes in 155 starts worldwide (52.2%), which includes a win and five top-10s in six starts at the Farmers, it’s impossible not to support him this week at odds of 5.8.

Finding this week’s longshot chances is more difficult given this field includes 33 of the top 100 in the world, and just 13 of the top 50. Xander Schauffele, who finished second in 2021, looks to have the game to pull off a victory, but I’m going to return to a pick from last week in Will Zalatoris as my second-best option.

Runner-up to Luke List last year, Zalatoris is 21 to get the job done on the west coast this week and, after finishing 36th at La Quinta, he will relish a tougher test with three of the four rounds set to be played on the South Course.

The forecast is for dry weather and little wind, which should suit Zalatoris at a venue where his driving prowess and superb iron play will be rewarded.

Also consider Tony Finau, who is built for a venue like Torrey Pines and boasts four top-10 finishes in eight appearances here. At 14.5, he will enter the staking plan this week.

There’s also good value in Canadian Taylor Pendrith, who has shortened to 65 despite missing the cut in The American Express. He tied for 16th at Torrey Pines 12 months ago and impressed as a wildcard in the Presidents Cup, which makes him a player to watch closely this season.

Farmers Insurance Open Tips

Jon Rahm @ 5.8
Tony Finau @ 14.5
Will Zalatoris @ 21
Taylor Pendrith @ 65