Breaking: The 2026 Farmers Insurance Open is underway at Torrey Pines, and the first tee shots just ripped through the cool coastal air. The PGA Tour’s West Coast test is back, with a fresh twist to the leaderboard from the opening wave. San Diego has its stars, its storylines, and a clear headliner. Brooks Koepka has returned to the PGA Tour, and the gallery swelled the moment he stepped on the tee. ⛳️
The Torrey Test Starts Here
Torrey Pines is a split personality in Round 1, and it matters right away. Players are alternating between the North and South Courses over the first two days, then everyone who makes the cut heads to the South Course for the weekend. The North is more gettable. The South demands patience and a heavy ball flight into firm greens. Early birdies on the North can turn a steady afternoon into a strong start.
The marine layer sat low early, and the breeze off the Pacific was steady. That helps tee shots land soft on the North. It also keeps the South brutally honest. The rough is up, and the poa annua on the South will get bumpy as the sun breaks through. Expect scoring swings late.
Tracking scores today, note which course a player is on. North Course starts can launch streaks. South Course grinders hang around, then pounce on Friday.
Koepka’s Return, and What It Means
This is Brooks Koepka’s first PGA Tour start in years, and the weight of it was clear. He looked calm, with a measured tempo and that familiar walk. The question is not his talent. It is how quickly he finds timing under PGA Tour pressure again. Torrey is a fair judge. It rewards control with the driver and a sharp wedge game when you miss in the wrong spots.
Koepka has won majors by leaning on patience and conviction. The South Course asks for both. The North offers him a runway to set the tone for the week. If he posts something in the mid 60s today, the mood of the tournament changes by dinner.
Koepka’s return reshapes the week. His presence affects pairings, crowd flow, and the confidence of anyone near him on the board.
San Diego’s Heartbeat, Aztecs in the Field
Torrey Pines is San Diego’s backyard, and the locals felt it from the first cheer. San Diego State standouts are in the field, and the energy follows them hole to hole. Xander Schauffele knows these lines and these winds. His control off the tee, plus a putter that runs hot on poa, is a clear fit here. J.J. Spaun carries the same Aztec pride, and he knows how to score on the North when the air is heavy and the pins are accessible.
This crowd recognizes every hold-your-breath approach into the South’s tucked corners. It is a smart golf town. They reward the player who shapes shots into the wind and keeps the ball below the hole. The roars carry down the cliffs and back to the tee. That sound builds courage.
The Schedule Twist, The Money Stakes
This event runs Wednesday through Saturday. The PGA Tour avoids NFL Championship Sunday, and it gives Torrey a unique rhythm. Friday becomes the real moving day. Veterans love it, because they can set position before the South Course finale. Rookies need to catch up fast, or the cut will hit hard by Thursday night.
The purse is a major talking point this week. Contenders know the breakdown. The winner’s share is the standard eighteen percent on Tour, and top 10 money can shape a season. Add in FedExCup points, and Round 1 matters more than most fans realize. Fast starts here tend to hold. Torrey rarely lets a struggling player steal the trophy on Saturday.
Wednesday starts mean less recovery time before the weekend. Expect tighter routines, earlier alarms, and sharper focus in the late wave.
Opening Day Watch List
- Koepka’s first nine holes, especially if he starts on the North
- Schauffele’s pace on early par 5s, a key to his Torrey blueprint
- Weather drift at midday, when the greens start to crust
- South Course patience, where pars are a real weapon
How the Board Could Shape by Nightfall
History at Torrey says the early leaders come from the North. A 65 or 66 can grab the spotlight, then force the South starters to play defense. By late afternoon, the South will fight back. Pressure burns fuel here. You see it on the par 4s that stretch forever, and on the par 3s where long iron swings decide your day.
The names we expect to see by sunset are balanced. One or two heavyweights, a couple of Aztecs lifting the crowd, and a sleeper who found comfort on the North. The rest of the field will be one solid round from kicking the door in on Friday.
Conclusion: The Farmers Insurance Open has opened with a pulse you can feel on your sleeves. Koepka’s return is real, the Aztecs have a hometown charge, and Torrey is already sorting the bold from the careful. Round 1 sets the tone here. In San Diego, that tone carries for miles. 🏌️♂️
