No.18 at Riviera is a spectacular finishing hole
Genesis Open, Originally the Los Angeles Open and most recently the Northern Trust Open
Riviera Country Club Course, Pacific Palisades California, just outside LA, 7,349 yards, par 71
Greens: poa annua, fairways kikuya grass
Designer: George C. Thomas, 1926
Defending champion: Bubba Watson, also won it in 2014
Last week’s winner: Jordan Spieth, Pebble Beach
Weather: Thursday, perfect 70, wind minimal. Friday: 63, rain, intense winds, ESE 28 gusting up to 52. Could be a suspension in play and catch up on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, couple of showers 64. Sunday, 67, perfect.
TV: Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel 1-5 PM CT/2-6 PM ET.
Saturday, Golf, 12-1:30 PM CT/1-2:30 PM ET; CBS 2-5 PM CT/3-6 PM ET.
Sunday: Golf, 12-1:30 PM CT/1-2:30 PM ET; CBS, 2-5:30 PM CT/3-6:30 PM ET.
There have been 3 majors held at Riviera, the 1948 U.S, Open won by Ben Hogan, they call the Riviera course “Hogan’s Alley” because he won there so many times. Hal Sutton won the 1983 PGA Championship, and Steve Elkington won the 1995 PGA.
Key holes:
No.1 503 yards, par 5
Super starting hole. The tee box is 75 feet above the fairway. A long drive can set up a birdie or eagle, but there’s out of bounds on the left and trees on the right, so accuracy along with distance is crucial.
No.2, 471 yards, par 4
One of the course’s most demanding holes. A slight dogleg right with OB left and trees on the right Requires a long yet straight tee shot. The approach faces a heavily bunkered green.
No.4, 236 yards, par 3
Hogan called this hole the “best par 3 in America.” It’s difficult at 236 and requires anywhere from a three iron to a three wood depending on the wind. Friday it will require a cannon. It will be impossible on Friday. The green slopes severely from right to left and is guarded by a large bunker.
No. 6 199 yards, par 3
A signature hole at Riviera that features a bunker in the middle of the green. If the player lands on the wrong side of the bunker he must chip over or putt around the sand.
No. 18, 475 yards, par 4
A tough finishing hole and one of the most famous 18th holes in golf. It starts with a blind tee shot to an elevated fairway, then requires a long approach to a green that is narrow in front then widens out. There is sand all around the green and trouble with trees to the right if the player comes up short or rough on the left hand side of the green. It’s a natural amphitheater.
Prediction
Going with the 32 year old from Columbia, SC. to get the job done at Riviera this week He was in a playoff two years ago that he barely lost to James Hahn. Last year, he finished fourth here, and finished 3rd last week at Pebble Beach with a strong backside on Sunday as he shot 68, -14, 5 shots back of Spieth. He’s trending well. Going with the defending United States Open Champion.
Dustin Johnson
DJ gets over the hump this year at the Genesis
11 Responses
Very nice summary. I am going to go with Kevin Na. I think it is time he gets it done.
Nah on Na
Could be Bama. Certainly overdue. We’re hot off our victories at Pebble with Spieth.
Congrats to Bama Golf for calling last week. Bama will get a nice 100 to 1 pay out this week if Na wins. I like David’s pick and agree that DJ has been knocking on the door and is going to kick it in Bum Phillips style.
I am going off the page 1 guys to Charles Thurston Howell the Third
Walter, Thanks. I called Spieth, too, so I’m pumped about that, too. Good stuff.
Well done. I am still mad about the Falcons blowing your perfect run through the NFL post season.
Thanks Walter. Yeah, I was doing well in the playoffs then I out-thought myself and picked the Falcons. Still kicking myself about changing my mind the Friday before the game. Had the Patriots 38-35 till Friday then over-thought it and it cost me.
Brownie, Like the GI reset. He’s been playing pretty well lately as well.
The feel is of a Major competition this week at Riviera. Most of the world’s best and certainly the hotshots are in attendance. As the saying goes when your hot your hot! Texas boy by a nose in a playoff win over Japanese bomber, Matsayama.
OK, awesome Spike. Thanks.