Torrey Pines experts' picks - ESPN
Tiger Woods is in the field (albeit at a 50-1 shot) at the Farmers Insurance Open, and Dustin Johnson makes his first PGA Tour start in six months after his leave of absence. But neither of those guys is part of our panel's picks for this week's tournament.
In a fresh twist for the 2014-15 season, our golf experts ("SportsCenter" anchor Matt Barrie, "SportsCenter" anchor Jonathan Coachman, ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf editor Kevin Maguire and "SportsCenter" coordinating producer John Ziomek) will pick one player they think will win that week's PGA Tour event.
They will "earn" whatever cash their selection makes that week. Finish first and it's likely a $1Â million-plus payout. Miss the cut and it's a bagel in the bank.
The catch? Each expert can pick any particular golfer only once all season. And we'll keep a tally, updated every week -- for bragging rights, of course.
This week, the tour stops at Torrey Pines on the North and South courses for the Farmers Insurance Open.
Matt Barrie, "SportsCenter" anchor: Hideki Matsuyama
There might not be a golfer who is primed for a win more than Matsuyama. He made a run last week in Scottsdale, finishing second. Once he hit the weekend, he shot 63 and 67, respectively. In his last eight starts worldwide, Matsuyama finished in the top three four times. In his debut at Torrey Pines last season, he finished 16th. His second time around, he finishes first.
Jonathan Coachman, "SportsCenter" anchor: Brooks Koepka
I am going to go with the hot hand in Koepka. He has played so much golf that, when we get to the meat of the schedule, he may be fatigued if he doesn't slow down. But he is doing what he has to do, and this kid is on fire. He can go back-to-back on a legendary course.
Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst: Brandt Snedeker
After solid play at the Waste Management Open last week, he comes to a place where he has a win and two runner-up finishes in recent history. Yes, he missed the cut last year, but that was a blip in a bad season. Anything outside a top-five will be considered a fail.
Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Brandt Snedeker
It used to be that you automatically penciled in Tiger Woods at this event, given his success over the years on the layout. But given his recent form, it appears far more wise to wait for his game to come around.
So I'm going with Snedeker, who has also had some success around Torrey Pines, once shooting a 61 on the North Course and winning the tournament in 2012.
Although Snedeker had a disappointing season in 2014 and dropped outside of the top 50 in the world, he has shown some good improvement recently and led the field in scrambling at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Now he returns to a place where in addition to his victory he has three other top-three finishes.
Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor: Graham DeLaet
The Canadian is on most short lists of best PGA Tour player without a victory, but watch him get that moniker off his back this week in La Jolla, California. After missing the cut in his first two starts at Torrey Pines, he went T-9, T-2 the past two years. Clearly he's got something figured out there. And it doesn't hurt that he finished T-7 last week at TPC Scottsdale, where every score he posted was under par for four days.
John Ziomek, "SportsCenter" coordinating producer: Jason Day
The Aussie finished T-2 last year, making it two straight top-10s at the Farmers, plus he's playing well with his T-3 finish at Kapalua that included a final-round 62.
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