Tiger & Phil Ready to Go in Farmers Insurance Open


Though they won't be paired together in the opening round, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be entered in the same tournament for the first time in 2014. The two - each making their 2014 PGA Tour season debuts - are all set to tee off in the Farmers Insurance Open, which starts Thursday at Torrey Pines near San Diego.

Both Woods and Mickelson have a long and successful history at Torrey Pines. In 13 starts at the Farmers Insurance Open, Woods has won the tournament a remarkable seven times. In the six times he's played at Torrey as his Tour opener, Woods has won on five occasions, including last year, which helped launch his five-victory season and ascension to No. 1 in the world.

Those wins don't include his most recent major championship victory; he won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in an epic 91-hole battle with Rocco Mediate for his 14th major title.

If Woods wins the Farmers Insurance Open again this week, he'll match his (Arnold Palmer Invitational) and Sam Snead's (Greater Greensboro Open) mark for the most all-time wins of eight in the same tournament. Indeed, if he comes out on top at Torrey Pines, he'll set a new Tour record for the most victories at the same course.

Woods admits he has a special affinity for Torrey Pines. "Yeah, I feel comfortable here, there is no doubt," he said earlier. "There are few courses that are like that where I've had my share of success where either I've won or been in contention to win."

Coming off a second-place finish in last week's Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour, Mickelson - like Woods a native of Southern California - has also had remarkable success at the 36-hole municipal facility along the Pacific Ocean (the players rotate between the North and South courses the first two rounds before staying on South for the weekend).

After several wins as an amateur at the course, "Lefty" is a three-time professional winner at Torrey Pines, having taken the title in the Farmers Insurance Open in 1993, 2000 and '01, the event's second-most titles, behind only Woods. Currently ranked No. 4 in the world, the reigning British Open champion will be making his 24th consecutive appearance in the event - formerly called the Buick Invitational - this week.

In the first round, Woods will be paired with Jimmy Walker and Jordan Spieth. Mickelson will play with Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan.

But don't be surprised if the tournament's two marquee players find themselves in the same group before Sunday rolls around.