The Genesis Open has been around for more than 70 years, witnessing several name changes from the Los Angeles Open to the Northern Trust Open, and its longevity has been secured thanks to it being parked at this sublime golf course.
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The 14-time major victor first made his comeback at the Hero World Challenge in November a year ago, which is an unofficial PGA Tour event benefiting the American’s foundation.
Being smart about it is a good thing, of course, but it would be odd to me if he didn’t play the Honda Classic because everything that’s happening right now is simply pre-Masters preparation.
So, instead, I’ll take the same price on a player who does love this layout and has the results to back it up – Martin Laird. “I’m used to being in a cart playing 36 holes. He’s been skiing and last week he was a little off and just needs to fine tune some things”, Harmon said. “You hit 12 greens around here, you’ve done pretty well”. That was eight, nine years ago, so I’ve sort of got used to it by now. “I just need to get back there”.
“So the old yardage books are out the window”, Woods said.
The following season, he was poised to win at Riviera.
Those lack of recent visits and his hot current play suggest Mickelson will be chomping at the bit to get started there again.
In recent weeks Johnson’s status atop the world heap has been challenged by Jon Rahm, who could have ascended to the top spot at either the Farmers Insurance Open or last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am depending on DJ’s finish despite the Spaniard not playing last week.
There was one stretch at the end of 1999 and early in 2000 when Woods won or was runner-up in 10 out of 11 starts on the PGA Tour.
The dynamics are different now.
Riviera, where Woods made his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old amateur in 1992, is the only course on the PGA Tour where he has played more than 10 tournaments without a victory.
That was the year he captured the Open Championship and it’s a well-known stat now that the four-time major champion hasn’t won anywhere since. He is No. 550 in the world.
He’s now playing without pain after spinal fusion surgery in April. His speed and power are back. We know how well he drives it, but his wedges are now really good, and he’s putting it well. That makes this week at Riviera compelling to see if he fixed his driving woes from Torrey Pines while maintaining his sharp short game and putting.
“I haven’t been able to move much, ’till basically last, I’d say, three months”, he said of his condition.
“I’m trying to get to that point”.
The 14-times major victor acknowledged on Tuesday that he felt sore after playing four rounds at Torrey Pines this year but that this time it was not his back that bothered him.
“That really put this in flawless perspective for me, ” Woods said Tuesday in his pre-tournament press conference at Riviera.
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One of the sport’s most unique and famous holes, the Par 4, 475-yard 18th at Riviera spells doom for even the most accomplished players and it’s at that storied green nestled below the clubhouse where the championship is often won or lost on Sunday afternoon.
