? COURSE: Riviera Country Club, 7,349 yards, par 71. Opened in
1927, designer George Thomas labored over 15 possible layouts before
deciding on one that remains among the best at forcing a player to think
his way around. The par-3 sixth hole is famed for its bunker in the
middle of the green, and No. 10 might be the best drivable par 4 in
golf. The Los Angeles Open first arrived in 1929, and Ben Hogan's three
wins in an 18-month span ? two L.A. Opens and the 1948 U.S. Open ?
earned Riviera the nickname "Hogan's Alley." Riviera also has staged two
PGA Championships and the 1998 U.S. Senior Open.
? FIELD WATCH: U.S. Open titleholder Justin Rose makes his
2014 debut as the PGA TOUR's international contingent comes across for a
key eight-week run leading to the Masters. In all, 16 of the top 30 in
this week's world rankings are signed up. … Two-time NTO winner Fred
Couples will tee it up on a sponsor invite, extending his own record
with his 32nd appearance in the event. He was the 36-hole leader just
three years ago, eventually tying for seventh. … Phil Mickelson,
back-to-back winner in 2008-09, is sitting out. He had started every NTO
since 2007. … Sang Moon Bae, who has yet to take a week off since
winter break ended, will tee it up in his seventh consecutive event.
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Lanny Wadkins (1985).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, George Archer (3rd round, 1983 at Rancho Park GC), Ted Tryba (3rd round, 1999 at Riviera CC).
? LAST YEAR: Merrick became the first Los Angeles County
native to win in his PGA TOUR backyard, holding off fast-charging
Charlie Beljan on the second hole of a playoff. Merrick overtook fading
leader Bill Haas with a 2-under 69, then went to extra holes when Beljan
(67) birdied the final hole of regulation. Both parred a replay of No.
18, but Beljan's missed 6-foot par save at No. 10 gave Merrick his first
PGA TOUR win. The UCLA grad had broken par just three times in five
previous Northern Trust starts, but turned in nothing worse than 70 all
week.
? STORYLINES: Rose becomes the next-to-last man in this week's
Top 50 to play his first competitive shot of the calendar year,
enjoying nearly two months off since playing in Thailand in
mid-December. The only man still idle: the semi-retired Steve Stricker. …
FedExCup leader Jimmy Walker is among seven of the 2013-14 season's
first 10 winners entered at Riviera, along with new Phoenix Open winner
and USC alum Kevin Stadler. … NCAA champion Max Homa (Cal) makes his
fourth PGA TOUR start on a sponsor exemption, awaiting his rookie year
on the Web.com Tour. … Former East Carolina golfer Harold Varner III,
also awaiting his Web.com Tour debut, will play on the Northern Trust
Exemption created to promote diversity.
Last week's winner dfsnole!
Updated Standings
1. dfs - 1761
2. NMT - 1703
3. 2952 - 1607
4. Bobcat - 1298
5. Ocala - 1298
6. Sea - 1284
7. Bill - 1253
8. Ed - 1224
9. Lizard - 854
10. 67810 - 832
11. NiA - 784
12. g2f - 716
13. DL - 648
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 2/16 7:20 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
