January 27, 2026
Tony Finau has been riding the struggle bus to start the 2026 season, missing the cut in both the Sony Open and The American Express. In these two starts, he has lost strokes off the tee (-0.256 per round), on approach (-1.043), and ranks just 113th in driving distance, all areas important for success at the Farmers Insurance Open. Despite that, Finau's history at this event is reason enough to believe he can turn it around. In 11 starts at the Farmers, he has missed the cut only twice and recorded nine top-25 finishes, including six top-10s. After a disappointing 2025 season, his current form is approaching rock bottom, but this event has proven to be one where he can suddenly click. At $7,000 on DraftKings, he remains a high-risk, high-reward play.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Akshay Bhatia was not able to turn around his luck at The American Express, missing the cut by 10 strokes. He'll look to rebound at Torrey Pines, where he has had much more success, finishing T13 at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2024 and T9 at the Genesis Invitational in 2025. In those two starts, Bhatia gained over 3.2 combined strokes per round off the tee and on approach. He also ranked 14th on Tour in strokes gained putting last season at +0.575 per round, but he has been ice cold on the greens recently, recording negative strokes gained with the putter in three straight events. His strong course history makes him an interesting option at $7,400 on DraftKings, but recent struggles make him a risky play for fantasy managers.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
With a T6 finish last week at the AMEX, Si Woo Kim increased his run of cashing fat checks with his ninth-straight top-25 finish. He'll now come to the Farmers Insurance Open, where consistent success has been hard to come by. He has two missed cuts in eight appearances, but has also only finished inside the top-25 twice. The inability to flourish here compared to other venues is arguably distance-related. Strokes gained ball-striking numbers take a large dip here compared to his overall output, especially those on approach. And for a guy who lives and dies by what he does from tee to green, the reason for the inconsistency is clear. Nonetheless, it's impossible to argue the tear Kim has been on for the last six months. It may be beneficial to sit this week out and continue on the train elsewhere, especially with the ownership level his current play will cause.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
It was a great week in the desert for Jason Day, who stormed up the leaderboard on Sunday with a 64 in the final round to finish in a tie for second. The Aussie had a field day on and around the greens, leading the field in both strokes gained metrics. It was also his best strokes gained on approach output (+1.44) since the same event last season. Unfortunately, little can be drawn from that to apply this week at the Farmers Insurance Open, as green surfaces and course length are incomparable. However, Day has put on solid performances at Torrey Pines through the years, winning twice. He doesn't have the approach play that's typically required here, but he's putted well on these pesky poa annua greens and has a world-class short game. Play him with reasonable confidence this week.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
It was a frustrating start for Keegan Bradley at the Sony Open after posting rounds of 68 and 72, only to miss the cut by one. He lost strokes in every metric but off the tee. He will now tee it up on Thursday at Torrey Pines, a place where he has had a ton of good finishes. This should be a place to right the ship, even if the statistics don't back it up. The 39-year-old has a world-class short game, ranking eighth last season in strokes gained around the green (+0.443). That alone does wonders at a difficult place like Torrey Pines. He's rarely one to have poor ball striking linger, so expect the over two shots he lost on approach in Hawaii to be much improved. After a poor performance, ownership could be lower on him than usual, making it a week to buy in if you're the least bit interested.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
With the first two events of the new season behind him, Billy Horschel comes to Torrey Pines looking to keep the momentum going. He's managed to make the cut in both starts, but neither of the tournament venues compares to what awaits at the Farmers Insurance Open this week. The 39-year-old is performing terribly off the tee, averaging -0.785 in strokes gained over his last four starts. Putting and short game have kept him in the fight, as well as a decent approach game. 200 yards or more is where ironplay breaks down for the former Florida Gator, who is middle of the pack in strokes gained approach numbers from 200 or more (approximately +0.002). Horschel might do enough to see all four days, but the ROI will more than likely be less than ideal.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Will Zalatoris finished tied for 18th at last week's American Express, and this followed a top-15 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player back in December. Zalatoris looked like he had brushed off the rust after an injury-riddled 2025 season by gaining 1.20 strokes on approach at the American Express last week. Zalatoris missed last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 13th at last year's edition. Over the last 12 months, Zalatoris ranks in the 90th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Adam Scott finished tied for 24th at last week's American Express, following a tied for 40th finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Scott has had a sizzling start to the 2026 season with three top-25 finishes in four starts. The last time Scott made an appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open was in 2021, when he finished tied for 10th. Over the past 12 months, Scott ranks in the 38th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Keith Mitchell finished tied for 44th at last week's American Express, and that followed a tied for 66th finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Following a rough finish to the 2025 season, Mitchell has started the 2026 season on the right foot by making the cut at both of his starts. Mitchell missed the Farmers Insurance Open last year but missed the cut in the 2024 edition. Over the past 12 months, Mitchell ranks in the 29th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Hideki Matsuyama missed last week's American Express but finished tied for 13th at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Matsuyama's finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii continued a strong run of form dating back to the end of the 2025 season. Matsuyama finished the 2025 season with five straight top-20 finishes and included a win at the Hero World Challenge in December. Matsuyama finished tied for 32nd at last year's Farmers Insurance Open. Over the past 12 months, Matsuyama ranks in the 97th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Tom Hoge finished tied for eighth at last week's American Express after finishing tied for 40th at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. This has been a welcome start to the 2026 season for Hoge, especially after his 2025 season was a forgettable one. Hoge missed last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 56th in his previous appearance in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Hoge ranks in the 92nd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Harris English finished tied for 27th at last week's American Express and will return to this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, as the defending champion. English has been in great form since the end of the 2025 season, with three top-15 finishes in his last six starts. At last year's Farmers Insurance Open, English gained over two strokes putting and 1.29 strokes on approach. Over the past 12 months, English ranks in the 79th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Patrick Cantlay finished tied for 13th at last week's American Express and will look to continue playing well at this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. Cantlay skipped last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 56th in 2024. Going back to the end of last season, Cantlay has three top-25 finishes in his previous five starts. Over the past 12 months, Cantlay ranks in the 90th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Ludvig Aberg was forced to withdraw before his third-round tee time at last week's American Express due to illness. He appears to have recovered enough from his illness that he is in the field for this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California. Aberg finished tied for 42nd at last year's Farmers Insurance Open. Aberg will look to bounce back and continue showing the form he was in to end the 2025 season. Over the past 12 months, Aberg ranks in the 95th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open, over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
After a let-down season in 2025, Xander Schauffele is back to play at perhaps the most-loved course on the entire schedule for the two-time major winner. After missing in his first three appearances, the X-Man has posted finishes of T9, T13, T34, and T2 over his last four tries. He's the second-highest player in the field in terms of average total strokes gained in the previous five seasons (+1.966). He's one of the best long iron players in the world, ranking 32nd in proximity over 200 yards (47' 8") in 2025. Schauffele also ended the season ranked third in par-5 scoring average (4.46), which is where most of the ground is made up on the South Course. Assuming he is ready to start his new campaign, he could get an early win like we saw Scotty Scheffler do a week ago.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
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