Siwoo Kim, No More Nightmares at Torrey Pines

Struggles at the Farmers Insurance Open
Best Finish: Tied for 11th in 8 Appearances
One Withdrawal, Missed Cuts in 2021 and 2025
Strong Performances in Last Two Events Raise Hopes for This Year

Siwoo Kim is aiming for redemption.

From January 29 (local time), he will compete in the Farmers Insurance Open, a PGA Tour event with a total prize fund of $9.6 million, held over four days at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.

This tournament will see the first and second rounds played alternately on the South Course (par 72, 7,765 yards) and North Course (par 72, 7,258 yards), with the remaining two days taking place on the South Course.

Siwoo Kim challenges for victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Siwoo Kim is seeking his fifth career victory, three years after his last win at the Sony Open in January 2023. The official PGA Tour website ranked Kim 14th in the power rankings for this tournament.

He has not achieved strong results at the Farmers Insurance Open, struggling with a persistent jinx. Despite making eight appearances up to last year, he has never finished in the top 10. His personal best at this event is a tie for 11th place in 2022. He withdrew in 2017, and missed the cut in both 2021 and 2025.

This year, he is hoping to turn things around. He has shown sharp form with his shots early in the season. Two weeks ago, he finished tied for 11th at the season-opening Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, and last week, he placed tied for sixth at the American Express. At the American Express, he led through the third round but failed to lower his score in the fourth round, missing out on the win.

The most talked-about player in the field is Brooks Koepka of the United States. With nine career PGA Tour victories, Koepka left for LIV Golf in 2022, but terminated his contract with LIV Golf last month and returned to the PGA Tour through the reinstatement program. This marks his first PGA Tour appearance in four years, since the Valspar Championship in March 2022.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States, who captured his 20th career win at the American Express, will not compete. Representing Korea are Kim Sung-hyun, who has returned to the PGA Tour and is performing well, Kim Joo-hyung, who is seeking a comeback, and Lee Seung-taek, who is making his debut season.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.