SOMETHING a little magical happened on the San Diego clifftops overlooking the Pacific Ocean 12 months ago. The Farmers Insurance Open is typically something of a pension pot bonus for the likes of Brandt Snedeker and Max Homa, fellows who seem to have (or had) access to a cheat code when it comes to playing on Californian Poa Annua. They’re apparently oblivious to the infuriating qualities of this gnarly grass and have loved nothing better than nudging their ball across it while others tear their hair out or, rather, simply hold out for the Florida Swing.
And then came last year when the Frenchman Matthieu Pavon rocked up with his heavy tread, modest record in Europe, and multiple tattoos. That ponderous gait has always belied a genetic athleticism (his father played football for Toulouse and Bordeaux), his log book was improving (after 10 top three finishes on the first and second tier he had finally broken through with a victory in the Open de Espana three months earlier), while his body art suggested a man who was capable of putting life into perspective.
He has many tattoos, as it happens, but one on his chest reads “Grow up” in Sanskrit, and it was inspired by a visit to India during his rookie year on the DP World Tour. “I was complaining a lot,” he admitted. “And then in India I saw some of the poorest things in my life. I saw kids almost naked in the streets having fun close to some water on the side of the road, having no shoes and stuff like this. I was like, ‘I really have to grow up. I have to stop behaving like a teenager, stop complaining about everything.’ I have to embrace the moment because I’m a very lucky person to be healthy and have a great job. This is why I wanted to get these words in Indian on my chest.”
In late September 2023 Pavon’s life skills were being tested on the course. A second round 77 in his home Open confirmed a seventh failure to break the top 40 in a row. His response was one typical of tour golfers: he changed caddie, and many of that man’s colleagues were less than impressed, but within 14 day had finished sixth and lifted a first trophy. The anonymous bagman responsible for ‘The Secret Tour Caddy’ wrote: “Maybe taking a really experienced older caddy had indeed been the right thing to do.”
Pavon ended 2023 by contending in two lucrative events, he won a PGA Tour card and he opened 2023 with seventh place in the Sony Open. As a fine performer on another tropical and volcanic island (Mauritius) it was the ideal location for his PGA Tour debut but Torrey Pines was always going to be a tougher test. The field was stronger, the tournament more prestigious, that spiky grass more resistant to those who had never before encountered it. No matter, Pavon carded a second round 65 to get into contention and a final round 69 sealed the deal.
MATTHIEU PAVON (+15000) HAS WON THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
— ActionGolfHQ (@ActionGolfHQ) January 28, 2024
It had been 117 years since a Frenchman won on TOURpic.twitter.com/FkxrRvCt8s
In the moments after his triumph he revealed just how many dog fights he had been through down the years. He had struggled as an amateur, been ignored by his national set-up, suffered from the yips shortly before turning pro and banged his head against the wall on Sundays, but at every stage he had dug deep.
His veteran compatriot Mike Lorenzo Vera backed this up when telling me shortly afterwards: “I am so happy for him because he worked so hard for this. Really, he has been working his ass off. It is also nice that he has a little bit of revenge on some very high-up people in French golf who underestimated him publicly, and he proved them wrong – not just wrong but very wrong. I am super happy for him doing that.”
This week Pavon defends the Farmers Insurance Open. Two weeks ago he top-scored for Continental Europe in the Team Cup and, moreover, impressed everyone with the intensity and quality of his mmatchplaygame. In September he may make a Ryder Cup debut and his background suggests Europe will have a fighter in its corner, one with a nice slice of perspective.
What about this week? He’s available at big odds to successfully defend his trophy but here are three others against the field.
Sahith Theegala
As mentioned above, winners and contenders at Torrey Pines are typically gun on the Californian Poa Annua greens and Theegala, a native of Orange County so a local, fits the bill. He won at Silverado in 2023 and was seventh there at the end of last year. He was sixth at Riviera two years ago and also fourth in this tournament the same year. One bad round in the four cost him better finishes in The Sentry and Sony Open. Back on home soil he has a fine chance and the price is decent.
Will Zalatoris
The youngster’s return from injury last year didn’t go too well but there have been signs in 2025 that he’s getting back to his best. He carded two 65s in The Sentry and was T12th last week in the low scoring Palm Springs event. Typically he prefers a tougher test, as back up by his excellent major championship log book. He’s also no mug on Californian Poa. He’s been second and fourth at Riviera and fourth and seventh in this event.
Niklas Noorgaard Moller
A first start as a PGA Tour member for the promising Dane but it looks like a good spot for him because he’s long from the tee and makes his gain on the field with driver in hand. He’s played well at Greeneagle and The Belfry where that strength is an advantage, and he was fourth last week in Dubai.
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