[PHOTO: Donald Miralle]

When questions were being asked overnight (Australian time) of Jason Day about a potential move of the PGA Tour’s fire-affected Genesis Invitational to Torrey Pines, a media official interjected that no official decision had been made about where the tournament will be played in mid-February.

“But I would like it here,” Day quickly noted with a smile

As players and fans await an announcement by the tour about the venue – and there have been numerous indications that Torrey Pines is the top candidate – Day would indeed be one of the happiest guys on tour if it happened. The 13-time tour winner is playing for the 16th time in the Farmers Insurance Open, having notched two wins and five other top-10s. The 37-year-old watched his kids grow up here, with first-born son Dash running around the South course’s 18th green as a toddler when dad won the 2015 Farmers and now inching towards being taller than his old man at 12.

“I love it because I have good memories here,” Day said of the possible temporary home for the Genesis event. “If it comes here I can understand why they’ve come here.”

The tour announced on January 16 that the Genesis would be moved away from Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles due to the deadly and devastating wildfires in the area. Speculation about where the $US20 million, limited-field event, set for February 13-16, would be held has focused mainly on TPC Scottsdale, which will host the WM Phoenix Open the week before the Genesis, and Torrey Pines, the municipal golf facility that is holding the Farmers Insurance Open this week. In both cases, the courses have the established infrastructure and volunteer base to assist with a fresh event, though both would have their challenges, too.

This week, Farmers Open executive director Marty Gorsich said he was contacted by the tour late last Friday about Torrey Pines’ potential hosting. But he did not provide further detail. “TBD,” he said. “Got to put a pin in their plans soon.”

As Day pointed out, Torrey Pines makes sense because of its proximity to LA and history with the Genesis host, Tiger Woods, who has eight wins there, including his memorable 2008 US Open triumph. Also, the South course, one of the most challenging setups each year, would provide a proper test for one of the tour’s eight signature events.

“Obviously, one way of getting the players to come back to San Diego is to have a signature event in your backyard, which would be nice,” said Day, referencing earlier questions about the lack of a lot of tour heavyweights in this year’s Farmers field. “It’s unfortunate that we’re to this point where we have to come to San Diego, even though we’re talking about another tournament coming to San Diego.”

Noting the solemn nature for why the tournament is being moved, Day added, “Right now, there’s a lot of people that are struggling, so we can’t forget about that, too.”

This year’s Farmers has two of the top-12 players in the world and six of the top 25. It also has been marked by seven withdrawals, including world No.3 Collin Morikawa, and the non-entry of world No.2 Xander Schauffele, the San Diegan who had played in the Farmers nine consecutive times.

If the Genesis does indeed come to Torrey Pines, will those who are playing three rounds on the South course (and one on the North) this week have an advantage?

“Yeah, definitely, because we get a bit of a taste test of what it’s going to be, and we know that the conditions will be,” Day said. “…If it’s here we’re going to play South and it’s all four days and it’s gruelling. Coming off a week at Waste Management, even though it’s perfect conditions out there, it’s different grass; you’ve got overseeded rye at the Waste Management, you’re dealing with crowds and then obviously you’re coming over here dealing with different grass.”

Matthieu Pavon, the Frenchman who won his first PGA Tour event last year at Torrey Pines, also lauded the difficult conditions as a positive for the Genesis being played here.

“The South course is a beast,” he said. “We know that from the previous US Open and also the Farmers over the years. But it’s just a phenomenal golf course to test your game. Obviously, if Genesis comes back here in a few weeks, that would be a very nice test of golf with the best players in the world.”