While the Farmers Insurance Open awaits a commitment from golf’s biggest draw, Tiger Woods, it has secured arguably the second most popular player in the world.
For the second straight year, world No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy will play in the tournament at Torrey Pines in two weeks. He tied for fifth, seven strokes behind winner Justin Rose, when he made his Farmers debut last year.
McIlroy s a commitment list that includes former 2017 Farmers champ and No. 3 Jon Rahm, No. 8 Xander Schauffele, No. 9 Rose, No. 14 Gary Woodland, the reigning U.S. Open champion, No. 18 sco Molinari, former Farmers winners Brandt Snedeker (47th) and Bubba Watson (50th), and San Diego native Phil Mickelson, who is ranked 73rd.
Farmers Open tournament director Marty Gorsich has been in with representatives for Woods and remains hopeful of his participation, but has yet to get an official commitment from the seven-time winner of San Diego’s PGA Tour event. Woods has until Jan. 17 to commit to the Farmers, which will be played Jan. 23-26.
Woods, the winner of last year’s Masters who is ranked seventh in the world, hasn’t played a competitive round since he led the U.S. team as captain and player to a Presidents Cup victory in Australia in mid-December. He captured the ZOZO Championship in his last official tour start in October and finished fourth in the unofficial, limited-field Hero World Challenge in early December.
Woods, who last won the Farmers in 2013, started his 2019 calendar season at Torrey Pines with a tie for 20th at 10 under. He opened 70-70-71, but climbed up the leaderboard on Sunday with a 67.
McIlroy started the wraparound 2019-20 PGA Tour season with a victory in shooting 19 under par in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China. The Irishman was the FedEx Cup champion for 2018-29, with three wins, including the Players Championship and Tour Championship.
At Torrey Pines last year, Mcllroy opened with a 1-under 71 on the South Course, fired a 7-under 65 on the North, and closed the weekend with a pair of 69s on the South.
