March 15, 2010

Farmers Insurance has signed a four-year agreement to be the title sponsor at Torrey Pines for the next four years.

The company stepped in at the last minute this year — 10 days before the opening round — to give one of the more popular PGA Tour events on the West Coast a sponsor.

The tour announced the new deal Monday with the Farmers Insurance Open. The purse will be $5.8 million next year, which is $500,000 more than when Buick was last the title sponsor.

Torrey Pines is usually where Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson begin their seasons.