SAN DIEGO _ Estimating crowd size has been a hot topic the past week. If you thought the discussion had run its course, think again.
The opening round of the Farmers Insurance Open will split spectators between the North and South courses when the tournament tees off Thursday morning.
Tiger or Phil? Whose gallery will be the greatest?
Seven-time Farmers champion Tiger Woods returns to PGA Tour after a 15-month layoff when he goes off the first tee on the South at 10:40 a.m. local time. Adding to the star power in Woods' threesome are 2015 Farmers champion Jason Day and 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson.
Local favorite Phil Mickelson, a three-time Farmers winner, goes off the first tee on the North at 9:40 a.m., with playing partners Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker. They tee off one group behind defending Farmers champion Brandt Snedeker.
Snedeker, for one, is eager to see Woods return, even if it is from a distance during the first two days of the tournament.
"Anytime he shows up for an event, especially here, crowds are immensely bigger," said Snedeker, who has won twice at Torrey over the past five years. "He's got a rapport with this place, kind of like I do but on a grander scale. He's won more times here than I've actually probably won in my whole career."
Snedeker has eight career wins on tour. Woods has seven Farmers titles, plus his 2008 U.S. Open victory here. Although Woods was quick to point out on Monday that he technically has nine victories here, counting an amateur title.
"It's pretty special to have him back on a place that he feels comfortable," Snedeker said. "I'm excited to see what he can do because I want him back playing great."
Fans can get an early glimpse of Woods in Wednesday's pro-am. He was scheduled to tee off at 6:40 a.m. on No. 1 North. Mickelson also will be playing the North in the pro-am, going off No. 1 at 11:10 a.m.
