* Venue: La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States (PGA Tour)
* Purse: $5.3 million
* Winning Share: $954,000
* FedExCup Points: 500

The 2011 Farmers Insurance Open will be held January 24-30 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla.

PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open Golf Courses: Torrey Pines Golf Course, a 36-hole municipal facility north of San Diego in the suburb of La Jolla, is the current site of the PGA Tour. Torrey Pines has hosted the tournament every year since 1968, with rounds split between its North Course and South Course (the South Course always hosts the final round).

The PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open is the tour’s stop in San Diego, Calif. The event has been played in San Diego since 1952. From 1989 through 2009, it was known as the Buick Invitational. Before Farmers Insurance came on board as sponsor, it temporarily reverted to being called the San Diego Open.

The Farmers Insurance Open will be held the week of January 24-30 on the North and South layouts at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

the Farmers Insurance Open (formerly the Buick Invitational) at Torrey Pines Golf Course. This tournament marks the first time in the new year that golf returns to network television for the third and fourth rounds on CBS.

One man who is familiar with the format of the tournament and has enjoyed great success here is Tiger Woods as he has won it six times, including four years in succession from 2005 to 2008. He also has the best score at this tournament after hitting a 22 under par 266 in 1999.

Last year: Ten days before the 2010 event began, Farmers Insurance stepped up as title sponsor. (Farmers has signed a contract to continue in that role through 2014.)

2010 Farmers Insurance Open Tournament Winner:

Ben Crane held off Michael Sim for a one-shot victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. The win marked Crane’s first since the 2005 U.S. Bank Championship.

Ben Crane finished at 13-under 275 for his third career victory, ending an 0-98 drought that stretches to Milwaukee in the summer of 2005. With this win, Crane is garneted a return trip to the Masters in April and Kapalua next January. He likely will crack the top 60 in the world, which should be enough to put him in the Match Play Championship.

Ben Crane opened with a 65 on the North Course and then posted scores of 71-69-70 on the South to hold off Brandt Snedeker and Aussies Marc Leishman and Michael Sim.

Defending champion Ben Crane will be challenged by a talented field that is expected to include Angel Cabrera, Chad Campbell, Stewart Cink, Rickie Fowler, Lucas Glover, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Rocco Mediate, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Boo Weekley and Tiger Woods. Mickelson leads a group of local players that includes Charley Hoffman, Chris Riley, Pat Perez, Kevin Stadler, Jamie Lovemark and Bill Lunde.

2011 Farmers Insurance winner

A JOLLA, Calif. — Bubba Watson made vital putts on the last two holes Sunday, including a 12-foot birdie at the 18th, for a 5-under 67 to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in a finish that was dramatic for peculiar reasons.

Phil Mickelson — that other left-hander and the tournament favorite — was one shot behind when he chose to lay up from the rough on the 18th before Watson attempted his birdie putt.

Then came a loud cheer as Watson sank his putt for a two-shot lead, meaning Mickelson would have to hole out a wedge from 72 yards for eagle to force a playoff. He has his caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay tend the flag — rare for a full shot from the fairway — and gallery gasped when the ball landed just behind the hole and started to spin back toward the cup.