Professional golf has been played at Torrey Pines longer than the PGA Tour has existed as an entity separate from the PGA of America. The Tour returns this week for its yearly trip to the La Jolla coast, a highlight on the calendar for players and fans alike and the unofficial beginning to the season for many in the golf world.

Whether you refer to it as the San Diego Open, Buick Invitational, or Farmers Insurance Open, this event seems to attract a wide variety of golf fans. Some tune in for the scenery, some for memories of Tiger, and plenty more just like watching professionals suffer in the South Course’s trademark cabbage-like rough.

As with nearly everything in professional golf these days, the future of this long-standing event is somewhat uncertain. Sports Business Journal reported this month that Farmers Insurance isn’t expected to renew their title sponsorship of the tournament after 2026. That is due in large part to a change in executive leadership at the insurance giant, but it leaves the staple event without a long-term sponsor. In the past, that wouldn’t have been a concern. There were plenty of corporations ready to fork over millions of dollars to have their name on an event featuring Tiger Woods. But in the past year, the PGA Tour has seen tentpole sponsors like Honda, Wells Fargo, and now Farmers drop their sponsorship of events that have all taken their turn hosting the world’s best. These companies have left for a variety of reasons, but each departure serves as a reminder that both the PGA Tour’s business model and the entire landscape of men’s professional golf are undergoing rapid change.

To be clear, the loss of Farmers Insurance isn’t a five-alarm fire signaling that Torrey Pines won’t be on the schedule moving forward. Another company may very well jump in and continue business as usual. But we don’t know what the PGA Tour will look like in 2025, let alone 2027. If the Signature Events setup sticks, will sponsors still be willing to fork over millions to sponsor a non-Signature tournament like the Farmers that likely won’t feature the best players the Tour has to offer? If the framework agreement comes together and men’s professional golf becomes more truly global, would an event held outside of San Diego make the cut for a worldwide tour slot?

While we don’t yet know the answers to those questions, we do know it would be a shame to lose this event from the calendar. Whether it was Tiger bludgeoning the field, Patrick Reed sticking his finger in the ground, J.B. Holmes slow-playing the Grammys, Jon Rahm announcing his arrival, the Big Cat’s glutes failing to activate, or Brandt Snedeker slaying a hurricane, the Farmers Insurance Open has consistently provided memorable events. All of those are from the last 15 years!

The South Course at Torrey Pines isn’t my favorite golf course in the world, but the Farmers Insurance Open is always circled on my calendar. As we prepare for the next chapter of men’s professional golf, we can only hope events like this one aren’t left in the past.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.