PGA's San Diego Open Lands Last Minute Title

With less than a week before the Torrey Pines PGA Tour stop, The PGA TOUR and the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies have agreed to a partnership whereby Farmers Exchanges will title sponsor next week's tournament at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, to be known as the Farmers Insurance Open.

The one year agreement includes a long-term option for the Farmers Exchanges, which as a group, are the third largest personal lines insurer in the United States and the largest auto insurer in California.

"We couldn't be more pleased that Farmers Insurance has stepped forward to sponsor the tournament and lend tremendous assistance to the host organization, the Century Club of San Diego, including helping to meet its charitable objectives for this year," PGATour.com quoted Commissioner Tim Finchem. "As a Southern California-based company and a national leader in its industry, Farmers recognizes the importance and positive impact a PGA TOUR tournament has upon its community. Just as Zurich Financial Services has shown its commitment to the people of New Orleans through its longtime sponsorship of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Farmers Insurance is showing its commitment to the people of San Diego through this sponsorship."

What was to be known as the San Diego Open was in search of a title sponsor after Buick, which had sponsored the tournament since 1992, filed for bankruptcy last year.

San Diego has been an important market for Farmers Insurance in the aftermath of devastating wildfires that have affected the region in recent years.