THE putting surfaces were a hot topic on both tours last week. In Palm Springs, Jon Rahm stomped off one of them, thunderously muttering “piece of sh*t set up, f*cking putting contest week”. It was very obvious that he was not a happy camper.

Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, Tyrrell Hatton wanted to bomb the 18th hole (with explosives rather than his driver) after he scored a nine and a seven on it during the week, the winner Thomas Pieters admitted the pin positions were not great in the final round, and our selection Viktor Hovland was moved to chip from a position on the green to try and negotiate an impossible putting angle. When you consider he is something of a poor chipper, it rather puts in perspective his lack of options. Alas, he clonked it over the putting surface and only landed us the place money.

Now we turn to California, two hours down the coast from last week’s venue, and much more the World No. 1’s kind of town.

Winner – Jon Rahm at 7/1

It wasn’t just during last week’s action that Rahm was hinting that he’d rather be somewhere else – even in his pre-tournament press conference his love for this week’s venue was overwhelmingly obvious. In fact, he was more or less pining for Torrey.

Visually? “I’ve said it many times,” he stated, “the coastline reminds me of home quite a bit and the weather is similar to what I grew up in.” Emotionally? “It’s like a home week. There are so many moments and memories my family has there (he proposed near the course). As my wife and I always say, it’s our favourite city in the world.” Mentally? “Winning here for the first time, making a 60-foot putt for eagle to win it on an iconic golf course, that’s something you dream of. I’m a real confidence player and that gives me plenty of it.” Putting? “I grew up on Poa Annua greens so any time I see them I’m confident.”

And what about tactically? “It’s a ball-striker’s golf course. You have to hit it in the fairway, you have small greens, you’re not necessarily having short irons in, so tee-to-green is at a premium, which luckily is one of my strengths. That’s why I have so much confidence there.”

Putting will matter this week, but it will not be an actual putting contest, and Rahm the bear ought to have a lot less of a sore head as a consequence.

Each Way – Xander Schauffele at 16/1

It’s a rare Farmers Insurance Open that falls to a golfer who hasn’t played the course well in the past. Time and time again, the champion has a good, often a very good, finish in his log book. For a long time Xander Schauffele, despite having grown up a mere few miles away, was transparently not that man. He even contrived to miss four of his first five cuts, a ridiculous record for a man so consistent elsewhere. But having difficulties and overcoming them prior to winning here is not uncommon; what matters is that a player proves they’ve got to grips with the challenge.

Last year that’s exactly what the Olympic champion did, first finishing second in this event and then landing seventh in the US Open. Playing in the latter event had been a dream of his ever since the location had been revealed the best part of a decade earlier and he upped his practice at the course. That gave him a good crack at both those tournaments and it can also reap rewards going forward. Moreover, he was probably a little tense ahead of the June visit and he could well be a danger with the hand brake released.

Each Way – Talor Gooch at 50/1

Final selection is a bigger price and rather a tasty one, too. Talor Gooch has made a very bright start to the 2021/22 season, landing six top 15 finishes in nine starts, including fourth on Poa Annua in California (at Silverado), a win at Sea Island, and T15th in his debut at the Tournament of Champions. He missed the cut last week, but off the back of one poor round of 75 (he later added a pair of 68s). The last time he shot 75 (at the Houston Open) he bounced back with that win. A repeat of that would be nothing but a coincidence; rather it demonstrates that he’s unlikely to be fazed by one poor score.

More important is that he’s comfortable playing Torrey Pines-style golf. There’s that fourth at Silverado and there’s also three top 20s at Riviera. But the real clincher is what he’s achieved in the tournament itself. We’ve established course form is needed and he has it in the form of four weekends played in each of his four appearances. On debut he was T12th with 18 holes to play, last year tied fourth after 18 holes, but most persuasive was his tied third in 2019, when first for Putting Average.