Week 4 Approach Shots: Farmers Insurance Open

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The PGA TOUR remains in California this week, moving down the Pacific coast to the San Diego area for the Farmers Insurance Open. Torrey Pines Golf Course's North and South Courses will host the event that has been a staple on the early PGA TOUR schedule since 1952.

TV/Radio (all times ET)

TV: GOLF CHANNEL (Thu.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 1-2:30 p.m.); CBS (Sat.-Sun., 3-6 p.m.) RADIO: PGA TOUR NETWORK - Sirius 209, XM 146, PGATOUR.COM (Thu.-Fri., Noon-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun, 1-7 p.m.)

Weather

Should be ideal weather all four days. Partly cloudy skies on Thursday and Friday, then clearing off on the weekend. Chance of rain is 10 percent or less. Highs expected to reach into the 60s. Updated weather info

Key links

• Expert picks | Sleepers | Tee times • Power Rankings | Fantasy Insider • Inside the Field | Inside the Courses

Last week, Farmers Insurance stepped in to sponsor the event for 2010 with a long-term option, one of six new title sponsors to sign on with the PGA TOUR since 2009.

A year ago, Nick Watney overcame a five-stroke deficit heading into the final round to win his second TOUR title. Watney came close to winning a second tournament, finishing second to Phil Mickelson at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship in March.

Watney went on to finish 12th in the FedExCup and earn more than $3 million, nearly doubling his previous-best earnings season (2007, $1,838,629). Watney's win in the San Diego suburb of La Jolla was his second TOUR title. He won his first tournament at the 2007 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

"It's great to be back," Watney said this week. "Definitely a lot of good vibes coming back here to Torrey Pines. Also it's great to know that Farmers Insurance stepped up last minute and we're going to have a tournament here for a while to come. So very happy to be back and excited to start the week.

San Diego-area resident and three-time Farmers Insurance Open champion Phil Mickelson will be making his 20th consecutive appearance at the event at Torrey Pines' two courses. Mickelson, who is making his 2010 season debut this week, has finished in the top-five seven times, including victories in 1993, 2000 and 2001. Last year, Mickelson shot 2-over-par 290 -- the first time he has finished above par in 16 made cuts near San Diego.

Jose Maria Olazabal is the only international player to capture the title in recent years. The Spaniard won by a stroke in 2002, becoming the first international player to win since South Africa's Gary Player won in 1963.

From 1996 through 2008 every winner of the Farmers Insurance Open has also won at least one major championship. Tiger Woods (14 majors) has won six times, including four in a row (2005-08), but the list also includes John Daly (1991 PGA Championship, 1995 British Open), Olazabal (1994 and 1999 Masters), Mickelson (2005 PGA Championship, 2004 and 2006 Masters), Scott Simpson (1987 U.S. Open), Mark O'Meara (1998 Masters, 1998 British Open) and Davis Love III (1997 PGA Championship).

A December 2009 storm knocked down a cypress tree on the North Course at Torrey Pines that was one of the city's most-photographed trees. The cypress was located behind the downhill, par-3 sixth hole that offers a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. Its trunk was snapped near its base, one of 18 trees lost on the North and South courses at Torrey Pines. Wind gusts reached 58 mph during the storm.

Columnists' predictions

Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for the Sony Open in Hawaii. Columnist Pick Comment Stan Awtrey BRANDT SNEDEKER: Looks like Brandt is back. He played well at the Hope (T-10) and can still recount each of the 61 shots he made while tying a North Course record at Torrey Pines in 2007. Craig Dolch LUKE DONALD: The Englishman has four top-10s in six starts at Torrey Pines -- including a pair of seconds -- and his worst finish is T24. Melanie Hauser PHIL MICKELSON: Yes, someone could come out of nowhere, but ... the table is set for Phil. Great finish last year, hard work in the offseason. Time to step up. No pressure, right? John Maginnes PHIL MICKELSON: It has got to be that left-handed fellow who won four times last year. Phil should be ready to hit the ground running this year in his first start.

Bolton's Yahoo! selections

Fantasy columnist Rob Bolton will provide his Yahoo! picks as a starting point for you every week. Use the advice and opinion from his Power Rankings and Fantasy Insider to assist in determining lineups changes throughout each tournament. Group Starters Bench Group A Phil Mickelson Luke Donald Group B Robert Allenby, Charles Howell III Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney Group C Brandt Snedeker Matt Jones

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Kodak Challenge

This week's Kodak Challenge hole is the par-4, 435-yard 14th at Torrey Pines South. Players will want to favor the right side of the fairway with a long tee shot to have the best approach to the green, then place their second shots in the middle of the green, avoiding left and long as that is an automatic penalty. What you see is what you get when putting. More on Kodak Challenge

GO LOW FOR MARCH OF DIMES: Farmers Insurance will make a donation to the March of Dimes for every birdie, every eagle and every hole-in-one made during tournament play in the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday and Sunday. Farmers is the second largest fund-raiser for the March of Dimes nationwide, raising $4.8 million in 2009. "To be able to combine great golf and an even better cause is a true hole-in-one for all of us at Farmers," said Bob Woudstra, Chief Executive Officer of Farmers Insurance Group, Inc. "We hope every golfer brings his best game to the course in support of ending premature births." Farmers will donate $100 for every birdie made, $1,000 for every eagle made, and $100,000 for every hole-in-one made during Saturday's and Sunday's tournament play on behalf of Farmers Insurance and the Century Club.

MILITARY APPRECIATION: The Century Club of San Diego recently formed a partnership with San Diego Padres to become a regional sponsor of the Farmers Insurance Open, centered on the tournament's military events, including sponsorship of the Military Appreciation Pavilion, participation in the Military Luncheon and support of the Military Pro-Am. The luncheon was held on Tuesday to honor the men and women in the United States military. Several PGA TOUR players attended. Additionally, all active duty military and their immediate families will be admitted free for all four tournament rounds. They are also able to partake in free food and drinks in the Military Appreciation Pavilion located at the 14th green of the South Course. (For more about the PGA TOUR's charitable efforts, please check out our new charity Web site. Click here.)

YOUNG WINNERS: Defending champion Nick Watney is one of six United States natives under the age of 30 with multiple PGA TOUR wins (Anthony Kim, Dustin Johnson, Sean O'Hair, D.J. Trahan and J.B. Holmes are the others).