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The final field for next week’s Farmers Insurance Open was released Friday afternoon, and the tournament at Torrey Pines is missing its biggest draw — native son Xander Schauffele, the world’s No. 2-ranked golfer.
The 156-player field includes 20 of the top 50 players in the world rankings, 10 major winners and six former tournament champions, but not the Scripps Ranch High School and San Diego State alum who had played in the Farmers nine straight years.
Schauffele withdrew on Monday from this week’s The American Express. His manager cited “a medical reason” in news reports, though no specifics were given. Schauffele last played Jan. 7 in the debut of the TGL indoor simulator league.
Schauffele’s absence from the Farmers denies local golf fans the opportunity to celebrate his major victories last year in the PGA and British Open championships.
Schauffele tied for ninth place in last year’s Farmers, four strokes behind winner Matthieu Pavon. Schauffele has been among the top 15 each of the past four years at the Farmers, including a second-place finish in 2021.
The Farmers will be played Wednesday through Saturday for the fourth straight year. It moved up a day from the Thursday-Sunday schedule observed for every other PGA Tour event to avoid going head-to-head with the NFL conference championship games.
Players tackle both the North and South courses at Torrey Pines during the first two rounds before the field is trimmed for the final two rounds on the South. The winner receives $1.67 million from the $9.3 million purse.
While it does not boast the loaded field of years past, this year’s Farmer’s field includes 20 players among the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. The list includes three players in the top 10: Collin Morikawa (4), Hideki Matsuyama (5) and Ludvig Aberg (6). Keegan Bradley (11), Sahith Theegala (13) and Sungjae Im (19) are also scheduled to play.
Six former Farmers champions are also in: Pavon, Max Homa (2023), Luke List (2022), Justin Rose (2019), Jason Day (2018, 2015) and Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012).
Major winners in addition to Bradley, Day, Matsuyaka, Morikawa and Rose include Zach Johnson, Shane Lowry, Francesco Molinari, Danny Willett and Gary Woodland.
Local pros participating include Charley Hoffman (Poway High School), Michael Kim (Torrey Pines High School) and J.J. Spaun (SDSU). Cavin McCall (Christian High School), an assistant pro at The Santaluz Club, made the field as the 2024 PGA Southern California section champion.
Six spots remain in the 156-player field. They are reserved for two sponsors exemptions from the European Tour and four players from Monday’s qualifier event at Mission Viejo Country Club.
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