Farmers Insurance apparently decided that they enjoyed the results of sponsoring the San Diego Open (Formerly the Buick). They’ve signed on for four more years.

The purse will be 5.8 million—$500,000 more than Buick was offering.

That’s good news all around.

I had a conflict of interest with the WGC-CA Championship this past weekend: In my heart, I wanted Ernie Els to win; but I had Charl Schwartzel as one of my fantasy picks.

In the end, I cheered for Els. It’s been a long drought for the Big Easy. He hasn’t won in two years, but he handled this one in fine fashion, going bogey-free over the last 23 holes at a traditionally tough Doral. He looked great, and that beautiful swing was on full display.

Els now is forty years old, and I’m sure that in the back of his mind, he’s hoping for a renaissance of the sort that Vijay enjoyed over the past decade.

An Els resurgence would be great for the Tour. He’s a likable guy, and his cause is a noble one. After the win, Els mentioned that he was refocused on winning in part to bring greater attention to the plight of autistic children, of whom he has one of his own. Today (Monday after his victory), Els is participating in a charity fundraiser for a proposed $30 million Els Center For Excellence autism treatment facility in Florida.

I’m having a Masters fantasy in which Els, Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson are at the top of the leaderboard heading into the Amen Corner.

Doral is called the Blue Monster because when it first was built back in 1960, people said that Alfred Kaskel was creating a “monster” in the middle of a swamp. When the course opened, it was known as the “Blue” course. With its swirling winds, water hazards and tough play, it soon became known as the “Blue Monster.”

The course originally was designed was Dick Wilson and later restored by Raymond Floyd.

Here are a few satellite images of the course. More after the jump.

It’s not because the course sports a big blue wall. That’s the Green Monster, and it’s in Boston.

Doral is called the Blue Monster because when it first was built back in 1960, people said that Alfred Kaskel was creating a “monster” in the middle of a swamp. When the course opened, it was known as the “Blue” course. With its swirling winds, water hazards and tough play, it soon became known as the “Blue Monster.”

The course originally was designed was Dick Wilson and later restored by Raymond Floyd.

A few weeks ago, I suggested Electronic Arts might back out of their deal with Tiger by moving to a general PGA Tour game, featuring the likenesses of several “young guns.”:

From February 27:

By my count (I’m probably forgetting something), that leaves Tiger with just two high profile deals: Nike and Electronic Arts, makers of the Tiger Woods video game. Nike is in too deep to get out. I predict that EA will drop him in the next year in favor of a general PGA Tour game, with several top young guns as the hook. Picture a box with Kim, Villegas, and several other under 30 “hip” players smiling out at you. They could sign the whole lot for less than they pay Woods.

My predictions, it seems, have come true. Golf Week is reporting that Rory McIlroy will join Tiger on the cover of Tiger Woods 2011. The reason is ostensibly that this is a Ryder Cup year, and Rory is a European.

Right.

I stand by my prediction. EA will move away from Tiger.