Tiger Woods dominated this event. Now its future is uncertain

Over his lengthy career, Tiger Woods has won a record-tying 82 PGA Tour events. You don’t reach stratospheric win numbers like that without wracking them up in fistfuls at certain events and courses.

For Tiger, Farmers Insurance Open host venue Torrey Pines outside of San Diego was one of the places he made the most hay, winning seven Farmers titles to go along with one of his greatest major victories.

But on Friday, the PGA Tour and Farmers Insurance confirmed that their title sponsorship was coming to an end after this year’s event. And without a new title sponsor locked, the Torrey Pines Tour event may be relegated to the history books.

Here’s what you need to know.

Tiger Woods makes history at Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines

If you eliminated all of Woods’ career wins except for those at a handful of courses, he would still have one of the greatest resumes in golf history. Everyone knows he’s won the Masters five times, one short of Nicklaus’ record of six green jackets.

But his total victories at three other courses surpass his success at Augusta National.

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

For reference, those 16 wins at just two tournaments equal Justin Thomas’ total career PGA Tour wins.

Incredibly, Woods accomplished the same feat at Torrey Pines. From 1999-2013, Woods won the annual Tour event at Torrey Pines seven times. At the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Tiger pulled off an epic 91-hole victory on a broken leg to capture 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 short of Rory McIlroy’s total haul.

Of the eight pro tournaments Tiger won at Torrey Pines, only in the last instance was the tournament known as the Farmers Insurance Open.

But that win helped boost a tournament that Farmers Insurance had stepped in to save a few years before.

Farmers Insurance to end PGA Tour sponsorship, tournament future in doubt

For Woods’ first six wins at Torrey Pines, the PGA Tour event was known as the Buick Invitational.

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

Ahead of the 2010 event, it seemed like the tournament might end for good. However, at the last minute, Farmers Insurance swept 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.

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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 tremendous sponsor of the PGA Tour, and we cannot thank them enough for their support of the Farmers Insurance Open over the last 17 years.”

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

Currently, the PGA Tour and its Future Competition Committee, led by Woods, is reportedly considering massive changes to the PGA Tour schedule that would go into effect as early as the 2027 season. Among the considerations is reducing the total number of PGA Tour events and starting the season in February once the NFL season is over.

That possible future doesn’t sound good for the Torrey Pines event, which is traditionally played on the last weekend in January.

The Torrey Pines tournament is not the only early-season PGA Tour event without a title sponsor beyond 2026. Sony’s sponsorship of the Sony Open ends after this week’s season-opening event. And the traditional season-opening event at Kapalua was canceled this year.

You can read all about the precarious position several tournaments find themselves in, as well as potential pathways the PGA Tour can take next year from GOLF’s Dylan Dethier here.