Riviera Country Club prepares for Nissan Open
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 Nissan Open | Preview | 17 Feb 2004
It’s hard to believe we are into the seventh event of the year but we are and the Nissan Open takes centre stage this week on the USPGA Tour. Any event with both Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh in the field at the moment is going to get the attention of the golfing public.
Tiger Woods has yet to win this event, one of the few that he plays on a regular basis on tour that he has not, although he has finished second twice. The runner-up placings came in 1998, when Billy Mayfair inflicted the only defeat Tiger has had in a playoff and the following year when Ernie Els won by two from Woods, Ted Tryba and Davis Love III.
Vijay Singh on the other hand has played only the four times in the last ten years at this event, his 18th place in 2000 being his best. He has made the cut in the other three but there has been nothing special about his performances to date.
Phil Mickelson has not played a lot here in recent years and will sit out this year’s event once again. After being in contention in his first four events of the year he will be looking for a break prior to next week’s Accenture Match Play.
The Riviera Country Club was constructed in 1926 and was designed by George C. Thomas, along with the original designer of the two courses at last week’s event at Torrey Pines, William Bell. In 2001 significant remodelling was carried out under the design of Tom Fazio.
The Riviera Country Club has again undergone further alterations this year, in addition to the significant changes made in 2001, with the now famed par four 18th having length added and tee lowered to create an even greater uphill nature to the hole. Some think it unnecessary. Tiger Woods himself feels that such a change just made a difficult hole more difficult but he has again expressed his love of the course. “It is one of the best designed courses we play all year,” he said. “It is very fair with everything in front of you.”
Other minor changes have been made but the 18th will provide the most discussion it would seem.
The greens are bent grass and poa annua and the fairways kikuyu grass.
The field and chances are not limited to the two favourites in Woods and Singh. Recent winners have included Mike Weir, who will defend this year and who has already made a solid start to his 2004 season, Len Mattiace, Robert Allenby and Kirk Triplett.
K.J. Choi played well here last year and with a 4th placing two weeks ago at Pebble Beach he may go close to adding to his two PGA Tour victories. Fred Funk has often played well here but his form to date this year is ordinary at best.
Previous winner Billy Mayfair’s 10th place last week at Torrey Pines suggest he is not far away from his best and his love of this course may see him go to that next level. Fred Couples has always played well, winning twice and was 7th last year.
Charles Howell III has enjoyed a degree of success here the last two years, finishing second in 2003 and 6th in 2002 and although his form has not been great this year to date, it may well be that he can improve quickly here.
Australasia is represented well this week with Steve Allan, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Steve Elkington, Stephen Leaney, Peter Lonard, Geoff Ogilvy, Craig Perks and John Senden all getting a start. Tamworth’s Mark Hensby will be waiting on the bench for a start.
Peter Lonard tees it up for the first time since his victory at the Australian Open. “It feels pretty good,” said Peter referring to the aftermath of his rib injury suffered around New Year. “I have been back hitting balls for just over two weeks and there is no pain at present and it’s a matter of how long it will take me to become competitive,” he told www.peterlonard.com. Despite not playing for some two months, Peter has lost only two spots on the world ranking and he will be looking to find form quickly, as next week he is back at The Accenture Match Play where he was 4th last year.
