France’s Matthieu Pavon back to defend historic Farmers crown
The 32-year-old who became the first Frenchman to win an official tour event returns to San Diego, US, to defend his title
22 January 2025 - 16:56
byAgency Staff
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Matthieu Pavon celebrates after the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course in San Diego, California, the US, January 27 2024. Picture: RAY ACEVEDO/USA TODAY SPORTS
Matthieu Pavon knocked in an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the Farmers Insurance Open last January and made PGA Tour history for his native France.
Pavon became the first Frenchman to win an official tour event and returns to San Diego this week to defend his title, with the tournament teeing off on Wednesday at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
The Farmers Insurance Open uses both courses at Torrey Pines in the neighbourhood of La Jolla. Every player in the field will play a round at both the North Course and the South Course; after the 36-hole cut, the famed South Course will be the setting for the weekend rounds.
The PGA Tour is also keeping the tournament as a Wednesday to Saturday affair to aim for some Saturday primetime fireworks for the final round — while avoiding a matchup against the AFC and NFC championship games on Sunday.
Pavon, 32, shot a 13-under-par 275 here in 2024, beating Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard by a single shot.
“No offence to easier golf course, but I’m not a huge fan when a course gets between 20 and 30 under,” Pavon said on Tuesday. “It relates too much to the putter. Here it’s really a ball-striking golf course and I like to see how intense and well-committed to the shots you have to be if you want to play great. This is why I kind of fell in love with Torrey the first time I played it.”
Matthieu Pavon is back to defend his Farmers Insurance Open title he won in January 2024. Picture: GETTY IMAGES/RICHARD HEATHCOTE
Pavon had played mostly on the DP World Tour before earning a card in the US for the first time. After his maiden victory, he was in contention the very next week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finished third in a rain-shortened event. He added a fifth-place finish at the US Open.
“The second year is always … the confirmation year,” Pavon said. “That was a great rookie one, but now it’s time to confirm, it’s time to show up again and try to win tournaments.
“It’s a big year for me because it’s also a Ryder Cup year. This is one of my goals I’ve been chasing since I was a kid.”
He’ll be up against a field this week that features five top-20 players, led by World No 4 and FedEx Cup leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. Other big names outside that top 20 include Tony Finau, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, Australia’s Jason Day and Max Homa.
A California native, Homa won the Farmers in 2023 but is coming off an underwhelming 2024 season. Day, meanwhile, captured this tournament in 2015 and 2018 during the prime of his career.
“I’m very loyal to this area, I’m very loyal to this golf tournament,” Day said. “I love this area, I love the people here. I also love the golf tournament and I love the golf course.”
Another name to watch this week will be Charley Hoffman, 48, who tied for fifth last week at The American Express and came close to winning his first tournament since 2016. Hoffman is a San Diego native who tied for ninth at this event as recently as 2020.
“[San Diego’s Phil Mickelson is] no longer playing the PGA Tour. He was the guy and I always looked up to him and he always supported the hometown event,” Hoffman said. “Now I’m sort of the older guy and hopefully we get the town out here supporting me and put on a show for them.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
France’s Matthieu Pavon back to defend historic Farmers crown
The 32-year-old who became the first Frenchman to win an official tour event returns to San Diego, US, to defend his title
Matthieu Pavon knocked in an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the Farmers Insurance Open last January and made PGA Tour history for his native France.
Pavon became the first Frenchman to win an official tour event and returns to San Diego this week to defend his title, with the tournament teeing off on Wednesday at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
The Farmers Insurance Open uses both courses at Torrey Pines in the neighbourhood of La Jolla. Every player in the field will play a round at both the North Course and the South Course; after the 36-hole cut, the famed South Course will be the setting for the weekend rounds.
The PGA Tour is also keeping the tournament as a Wednesday to Saturday affair to aim for some Saturday primetime fireworks for the final round — while avoiding a matchup against the AFC and NFC championship games on Sunday.
Pavon, 32, shot a 13-under-par 275 here in 2024, beating Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard by a single shot.
“No offence to easier golf course, but I’m not a huge fan when a course gets between 20 and 30 under,” Pavon said on Tuesday. “It relates too much to the putter. Here it’s really a ball-striking golf course and I like to see how intense and well-committed to the shots you have to be if you want to play great. This is why I kind of fell in love with Torrey the first time I played it.”
Pavon had played mostly on the DP World Tour before earning a card in the US for the first time. After his maiden victory, he was in contention the very next week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finished third in a rain-shortened event. He added a fifth-place finish at the US Open.
“The second year is always … the confirmation year,” Pavon said. “That was a great rookie one, but now it’s time to confirm, it’s time to show up again and try to win tournaments.
“It’s a big year for me because it’s also a Ryder Cup year. This is one of my goals I’ve been chasing since I was a kid.”
He’ll be up against a field this week that features five top-20 players, led by World No 4 and FedEx Cup leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. Other big names outside that top 20 include Tony Finau, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, Australia’s Jason Day and Max Homa.
A California native, Homa won the Farmers in 2023 but is coming off an underwhelming 2024 season. Day, meanwhile, captured this tournament in 2015 and 2018 during the prime of his career.
“I’m very loyal to this area, I’m very loyal to this golf tournament,” Day said. “I love this area, I love the people here. I also love the golf tournament and I love the golf course.”
Another name to watch this week will be Charley Hoffman, 48, who tied for fifth last week at The American Express and came close to winning his first tournament since 2016. Hoffman is a San Diego native who tied for ninth at this event as recently as 2020.
“[San Diego’s Phil Mickelson is] no longer playing the PGA Tour. He was the guy and I always looked up to him and he always supported the hometown event,” Hoffman said. “Now I’m sort of the older guy and hopefully we get the town out here supporting me and put on a show for them.”
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