PGA Tour to Finish on Saturday Instead of Sunday
by Roh Woolae
Published 22 Jan.2025 01:00(KST)
Updated 22 Jan.2025 07:53(KST)
Farmers Insurance Open Begins on Wednesday
Schedule Adjusted for NFL Playoff Popularity
Korean Players Im Sungjae, Kim Siwoo, Lee Kyunghoon, and Kim Sunghyun to Compete
The PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open (total prize money $9.3 million) schedule is unusual.
This is a panoramic view of the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, where the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open is held. Photo by Torrey Pines
원본보기 아이콘This year, it will be held for four days starting on the 22nd (local time) at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (par 72) in San Diego, California, USA. The tournament is held on an unusual schedule, starting on Wednesday and ending on Saturday local time. This is due to the influence of the National Football League (NFL), which enjoys unparalleled popularity in the United States. To avoid overlapping with the NFL's two conference championship games, the PGA Tour tournament finishes on Saturday. This strategic choice has been made since 2022.
The tournament is played on two courses. The first and second rounds alternate between the Torrey Pines South Course (par 72, 7,765 yards) and the North Course (par 72, 7,258 yards). The third and fourth rounds are held only on the South Course. The South Course, which also hosts the US Open, is longer and more difficult than the North Course, with a difference of 3 to 4 strokes or more. Players aim to minimize strokes on the North Course and avoid losing strokes on the South Course.
Four Korean players are participating. Im Sung-jae is aiming to restore his honor. After finishing third at the season opener The Sentry this year and heading into the next tournament, the American Express, with light steps, he suffered a shocking cut. He failed to overcome a poor performance on the first day of the tournament, where he lost three balls in the water and shot a 5-over-par 77.
Im Sung-jae has many good memories at the Torrey Pines Golf Course, where the Farmers Insurance Open is held. He has participated six times and made the cut five times. Following a 6th place finish in 2022, he placed 4th in 2023. If Im Sung-jae wins, Korean fans can watch the winning moment live at home on Sunday morning. If he wins, he could also break K.J. Choi's record for the highest career earnings by a Korean on the PGA Tour. In addition to Im Sung-jae, Kim Si-woo, Lee Kyung-hoon, and Kim Sung-hyun are also competing for Korea.
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