The event that Tiger Woods dominated may be over forever

In his long career, Tiger Woods has won a record 82 PGA Tour events. You don’t reach stratospheric winning numbers this way without putting your fists together in certain events and courses.

For Tiger, the Farmers Insurance Open host Torrey Pines outside of San Diego is one of the places where he made the most grass, winning seven Farmers titles to go along with one of his biggest victories.

But on Friday, the PGA Tour and Farmers Insurance confirmed that their sponsorship of the title will end after this year’s event. And unless a new title sponsor is locked in, the Torrey Pines Tour event could be consigned to the history books.

Here’s what you need to know.

Tiger Woods made history at the Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines

If you strip away all but a handful of courses in Woods’ career, he’ll have the greatest resume in golf history. Everyone knows he won the Masters five times, one Nicklaus’ record of six green jackets.

But his victory totals at three other courses outstrip his success at Augusta National.

Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Florida’s Bay Hill eight times. He earned eight more titles at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational hosted by Ohio’s Firestone Country Club.

For reference, those 16 points won in just two tournaments equaled Justin Thomas’ total PGA Tour wins.

Amazingly, Woods did the same at Torrey Pines. From 1999-2013, Woods won the Tour’s annual event at Torrey Pines seven times. At the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, Tiger pulled off a stunning 91-hole victory over a broken leg to claim his 14th major title and his eighth win at Torrey.

His 24 wins at Bay Hill, Firestone and Torrey Pines are five more than World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler’s career total, and five times short of Rory McIlroy’s earnings.

Of the eight tournaments that Tiger has won at Torrey Pines, only the last was a tournament known as the Farmers Insurance Open.

But that win helped boost the competition that Farmers Insurance entered to save a few years ago.

With Woods’ first win at Torrey Pines, the PGA Tour event became known as the Buick Invitational.

Originally called the San Diego Open, the event dates back to 1952 and moved to Torrey Pines in 1968.

Before the 2010 event, it looked like the tournament might be over for good. However, at the last minute, Farmers Insurance stepped in to become the new title sponsor, and the tournament continued.

But on Friday, both Farmers Insurance and the PGA Tour confirmed that the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open will be the 17th and last time the tournament is played under that moniker.

In statements to Golf Digest, the organizations announced the news. Farmers Insurance wished the PGA Tour “continued success” as “their sponsorship comes to an end.”

The PGA Tour told Golf Digest, “Farmers Insurance has been a major sponsor of the PGA Tour, and we can’t thank them enough for their support of the Farmers Insurance Open for the past 17 years.”

So with Farmers Insurance out as the title sponsor of the Torrey Pines event, does that mean the tournament is also history? It is possible.

Currently, the PGA Tour and its Future Competition Committee, chaired by Woods, are reportedly considering major changes to the PGA Tour schedule that will take effect at the start of the 2027 season. Among the considerations is reducing the total number of PGA Tour events and starting the season in February when the NFL season is over.

That possible future doesn’t sound good at the Torrey Pines event, traditionally held on the last weekend in January.

The Torrey Pines Championship is not the only early PGA Tour event without a title sponsor after 2026. Sony’s sponsorship of the Sony Open ends after this week’s season opener. And the regular season opener in Kapalua has been canceled this year.

You can read all about the predicament many tournaments find themselves in, and the possible paths the PGA Tour could take next year from GOLF’s Dylan Dethier here.