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The South course at Torrey Pines was designed by William F Bell and opened for play in 1957. Rees Jones was commissioned to undertake a redesign in 2001 so the course would be ready for the 2008 US Open Championship. Who could forget that dramatic Championship which ended with Tiger Woods beating Rocco Mediate on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff (after an 18 hole play off) and with a fractured bone in one leg.
Torrey Pines sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla south of Torrey Pines State Reserve. Tight fairways, lush rough, pine trees, strategic bunkering and deep ravines are just some of the challenges ahead. Throw in the changing weather conditions, when fog, wind and rain come into play, they can often sweep in on this seaside layout. But you have a course that offers even the best golfers in the world a tough examination of their skills, both physically and mentally. Saying that I have shot a 57 on this course, but then that was on my PSP!
The complex takes its name from the indigenous Torrey Pine which is native to the area. The course is maintained by the City of San Diego and is open to the public and has enjoyed numerous awards, included amongst them is Golf Magazine's "Top 500 Holes in the World", 2000 (Par 4, 12th Hole) and Golf Digest Magazine's "America's 100 Greatest Public Access Golf Courses", 2005-2006.
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My tips to Win:
Helping us to get off to a winning start this year was Hideki Matsuyama 11/1 with SpreadEx This event is normally a bit hit or miss for Hideki with five Top 20 finishes including two Top 10s, from his eleven starts
With seven Top 25 from his thirteen starts here, including a runner-up and two other Top 5s Keegan Bradley 25/1 with SpreadEx will fancy his chances this week. The US Ryder Cup captain has stated he wants to make the team and has started the year well with two Top 15 finishes from his two starts
From his ten starts in this tournament Tony Finau 25/1 with SpreadEx has only been outside the Top 25 once and has a runner-up and five Top 10s in that run including a Top 5, I think it is safe to say Tony loves teeing it up at Torrey Pines
Each-way tips:
Two wins here and a runner-up should see Jason Day 30/1 with SpreadEx arriving with some very positive vibes. Jason has played in this event fifteen times and apart from his wins and runner-up finishes he has four other Top 10s including two Top 5s. And with his third-place finish at the weekends American Express, I expect him to be challenging again this week
Having missed three straight cuts in his first three starts in this event Max Homa 35/1 with BetVictor took a year out from playing here and come back and made the Top 10. He has since gone on to win the tournament and notch up another three Top 20 finishes and I expect him to be in the thick of it again come Sunday
Outside tip:
This is really a hit or miss punt as Niklas N๘rgaard M๘ller 80/1 with Bet365 has the game to do very well here, but it is the first time that he will be teeing it up at Torrey Pines. Niklas comes into this week on the back of a Top 5 finish at the Dubai Desert Classic at the weekend firing a final round 66. This followed on from him being the third best point scorer in the Continental Europe team only losing one match from his four starts and winning his singles match in the Team Cup