Farmers Insurance Open betting: Is Koepka worth backing in PGA TOUR return?
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA TOUR this week after a four-year stint with LIV Golf. The five-time major champion will tee it up alongside Ludvig Aberg and Max Homa in the opening two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
Koepka was able to jump circuits under the PGA TOUR's new returning member program, which essentially opened the door for Koepka, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cam Smith to leave LIV Golf if they desired. Koepka, the only one to take the PGA TOUR up on its offer, is throwing himself straight into the competitive fire.
While all eyes will be on Koepka, the field is as strong as usual for one of the marquee events of the West Coast swing. Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young will make their season debuts, and Patrick Cantlay, J.J. Spaun, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jason Day are other notable participants.
Let's get to our five players to watch - and bet on - for the Farmers Insurance Open.
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Brooks Koepka
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+5000)
A motivated Koepka? Yes, please.
Sure, the 35-year-old could be rusty due to a lack of competitive reps, but the majority of the field is still settling into the new season. Plus, he finished inside the top 15 in his two most recent starts on the DP World Tour, although those occurred in late September and early October.
Koepka still possesses the power to take on a long, tough Torrey Pines layout (both the North and South Courses). He hasn't had a ton of success at the tournament, but he did finish T4 at the 2021 U.S. Open. Perhaps I'm getting caught up in the hype surrounding his return, but Koepka thrives under the spotlight, which is shining brightly on him this week.
Chris Gotterup
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+3000)
Gotterup is one of the best young talents on the PGA TOUR, but he still isn't quite getting enough respect in the betting market. The 26-year-old won two starts ago, at the Sony Open, on a course that doesn't necessarily fit his style of play. He overpowered Waialae Country Club, and the distance he generates off the tee will give him a huge advantage at Torrey Pines.
Gotterup has two victories in his last nine starts. And if you're worried about a letdown, rest assured; he placed T3 at the Open Championship the week after his victory at the Scottish Open, where he outdueled Rory McIlroy for his first PGA TOUR win.
Will Zalatoris
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+3500)
Zalatoris is still working his way back from a back injury, but early signs suggest he's really close to full strength. During his first start in seven months, he finished T15 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour. He then placed T18 last week at The American Express, where he gained 4.6 strokes tee to green on his two rounds at PGA West's Stadium Course.
The 29-year-old has played the Farmers Insurance Open five times in his career, finishing as the runner-up in 2022 to go along with two other top-15 showings. Even if he's not 100%, he remains one of the best ball-strikers in the field. He's worth taking a flier on, as this could be the week he peaks.
Pierceson Coody
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+6000)
Coody has started 2026 with back-to-back top-20 results, carrying over his form from the fall, when he registered his second top-3 finish on the PGA TOUR and made five straight cuts. The 26-year-old gains the majority of his strokes with his driver and putter, which is a great recipe for success at Torrey Pines. Last year, he led the TOUR in strokes gained: off the tee and ranked fourth in birdie average. Coody has the tools to become a weekly threat, and this week's venue offers an opportunity for him to break through.
⛳️ Check out all of the markets available for the Farmers Insurance Open on theScore Bet here
Marco Penge
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+6000)
If you're unfamiliar with Penge, you likely aren't alone. This will be his first start in the United States as a full-time PGA TOUR member after finishing second to McIlroy in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai standings (the tour's FedEx Cup equivalent). However, he's no stranger to winning, claiming three titles in Europe in 2025. He even garnered some Ryder Cup buzz with his elite play.
Penge is a world-class driver of the ball and an above-average putter, plus he can get hot with his irons. The 27-year-old Englishman's game should translate seamlessly to the driver-heavy PGA TOUR tests, and it shouldn't shock anyone if he picks up an early victory to kick off his tenure on TOUR.
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