Charley Hoffman Plays in 28th Farmers Insurance Open, Wants Tournament to Stay

The San Diego native and longtime PGA Tour player hopes Torrey Pines will continue hosting the event.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:39pm

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Charley Hoffman, a native San Diegan, is playing in the 28th Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines this year, five weeks after his 49th birthday. Hoffman, who has participated in the tournament 28 times, wants to see the PGA Tour event remain at the iconic golf course, even though this is the final year for Farmers as the sponsor. He feels he can still compete at the highest level and hopes to play on the PGA Tour for a couple more years before potentially transitioning to the Champions Tour.

Why it matters

Hoffman's participation in the Farmers Insurance Open highlights the tournament's long history in San Diego and the importance of Torrey Pines as a venue. As one of the few remaining PGA Tour events in California, the future of the tournament is uncertain after this year, but Hoffman's desire to keep it in San Diego reflects the event's significance to the local community.

The details

Hoffman, who first played in the tournament as a 16-year-old high school sophomore in 1993, is a regular at the Farmers Insurance Open. He is playing this season on a major medical extension after missing the final six months of 2025 following surgery to remove a benign limpoma from the back of his right shoulder. Hoffman says he feels 'great' and enjoyed the extended time off, which allowed him to spend more time in San Diego during the summer.

  • Charley Hoffman first played in the Farmers Insurance Open in 1993 as a 16-year-old high school sophomore.
  • Hoffman is playing in the 28th Farmers Insurance Open this year, five weeks after his 49th birthday.

The players

Charley Hoffman

A 49-year-old native San Diegan and longtime PGA Tour player who has participated in the Farmers Insurance Open 28 times.

Phil Mickelson

A fellow San Diegan who won the 1993 Buick Invitational of California, the first of his three PGA Tour victories in his hometown.

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What they’re saying

“I want to stay' on the PGA Tour. Like I tell people, I still hit it plenty long, I still hit it good enough to compete out here. Ideally, I'd play out here for a couple more years, if my body feels good. If I don't, I have a great, I would say, plan to go to the Champions Tour and play out there.”

— Charley Hoffman (San Diego Union-Tribune)

“It's an iconic golf course. I could pick a better date than the end of January to play this tournament here. I mean, if I were to start over, I'd have it in the middle of the summer in a playoff event. But that's for the higher-ups to figure out.”

— Charley Hoffman (San Diego Union-Tribune)

“I don't think this tournament's going anywhere. … I think the tour's gonna work hard to have some sort of tournament here; the date could change, maybe not next year, but in the future. … But really, I'd be shocked to see this golf tournament go away.”

— Charley Hoffman (San Diego Union-Tribune)

What’s next

The PGA Tour will work to determine the future of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, including potentially changing the date of the tournament.

The takeaway

Charley Hoffman's long-standing participation in the Farmers Insurance Open and his desire to see the tournament remain at Torrey Pines highlights the event's significance to the San Diego community. As the PGA Tour looks to the future of the tournament, Hoffman's perspective as a local player provides valuable insight into the importance of preserving this iconic golf event in the region.