It’s no secret but the stats do bear out that Torrey Pines South is no joke.
One of two golf courses – along with the North – that hosts the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open, the South is proving once again to be one of the toughest tests in golf.
So far in 2024, the Farmers field was 3 under during the first round Wednesday. In Thursday’s second round, the field of 156 was a combined 18 over, according to the PGA Tour’s ShotLink.
The South is the lone course in play for the final two rounds of the Farmers, so whoever reaches the finish line first there has earned his stripes.
Looking at the entire course stats from last season, Torrey Pines South was the highest non-major venue on the most difficult courses list.
1
Oak Hill Country Club - East Course
Host of the 2023 PGA Championship, Oak Hill led the way as the most difficult course a year ago. Playing as a par 70, Oak Hill had an average score of 2.722 strokes over par. It surrendered just six eagles over four days and induced 233 double bogeys, most all season.
2
Los Angeles Country Club - North Course
The U.S. Open venues are always a difficult challenge, and LACC was no different. LACC was a par 70 that played 1.776 strokes over par.
3
Royal Liverpool
The 2023 Open Championship venue checked in third on this list at 1.746 strokes over par. The par-71 layout was the only other course to produce more than 200 double bogeys over the four days.
4
Torrey Pines - South
The South course is markedly more challenging that its sister North course. In 2023, the South played to a cumulative total of 1.623 strokes over par. It was also the longest course on Tour at 7,765 yards.
5
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Muirfield, aka Jack’s Place, host of the Memorial Tournament, is a par 72 that played 1.522 strokes over par in 2023.
6
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta National has to be on this list before too long, right? The par-72 course played at 7,545 yards in 2023 and was .960 strokes over par, good for sixth on the list.
