Tiger Woods Leads the Farmers Insurance Open By Six Shots

Tiger Woods has won six regular tournaments at Torrey Pines and a US Open and the former world number one is in great shape to add to that tally after the uncompleted final round of the Farmer’s Insurance Open.

Woods won his last major at the California complex in 2008 and clearly has a game well suited to the host North and South courses where he is playing this tournament. He missed the cut in his last outing at the Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour when his game did not appear to be in good order.

After some time away from the course due to injury and the fallout from revelations about his private life Woods dropped down the world rankings. Three wins last season helped him reach number two in the standings with only Rory McIlroy above him.

Despite claiming three regular Tour titles Woods may look back on 2012 with an element of disappointment. He failed to add to his total of 14 major championships despite playing himself into contention before fading over the weekend.

The Ryder Cup will probably rank as one of the toughest weeks in Woods’ career. He won just one half a point for the side and his partnership with Steve Stricker failed to deliver the expected points.

At the close of play at Torrey Pines on Sunday Woods had established a six shot lead after a playing the first seven holes of the fourth round in three under par. There were no  blemishes on his card and Woods’ score was boosted by a chip in birdie on the third hole and a Monday win now looks a formality

Woods will look at the leaderboard and feel this is a tournament that he should win. Brandt Snedeker is now in second place after playing his second round in ten more shots than his first round. He is currently four under par for his round after 13 holes

Phil Mickelson is also a multiple winner of this tournament which is one of his favorites of the year. He grew up San Diego and attended the event as a teenager. At one under par Mickelson made the halfway cut with a shot to spare but is now too far behind Woods to contend over the remaining holes.

Woods always defines his years by success or otherwise in the majors but if he wins today week as he surely must he will be reminding McIlroy that he can still be a factor in the majors at this stage of his career.