Can Mickelson three-peat at Riviera?
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Northern Trust Open | Preview | 03 Feb 2010
The PGA Tour heads north from San Diego to the outskirts of Los Angeles for this week’s Northern Trust Open at the famed Riviera Country Club at Pacific Palisades, north of Santa Monica. Originally designed by George Thomas in the mid 1920’s, the golf course first played host to this event in 1941 although it became its regular venue in 1973.
Interestingly, despite his Californian background, this is one PGA Tour event title that Tiger Woods cannot lay claim to and of course that will remain the case at the end of this week. In the last 30 years, four players have won the event more than once they being Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Mike Weir and Phil Mickelson and in 2010 Mickelson will look to become the first ever player to win on three consecutive occasions.
Last year Mickelson successfully defended his 2008 title but it was not without drama. He started the final round four ahead but was caught and passed by Steve Stricker before staging a late comeback to win by one over Stricker.
Mickelson started the 2010 season last week at Torrey Pines and although not all that convincing he played well enough especially considering the pressure others had put on him and that it was his first tournament in eleven weeks. He should go close to making it a three-peat.
Robert Allenby has gone agonisingly close to that elusive first PGA Tour win since winning this event in a six way playoff in 2001 and he gets his chance again this week. He is in some of the best form of his career and if there is such a thing as a form line to follow a player’s chances then it is hard to imagine a better one that Allenby’s. His form of late has been outstanding including 6 top ten finishes in his last eight starts worldwide.
Steve Stricker finished runner up to Mickelson last year after hitting the lead during the last round. He has started the season very well and is sure to go on with it this week on a golf course that he has not played often but has played well in the past two years.
Ernie Els has played this event well on occasions including when winning in 1999. He has been a long time away from the winner’s circle, in fact we need to go back nearly two years for that but there is a lot to like about the manner in which he has been playing of late.
If logic has anything to do with this analysis process then Mike Weir must stand a great chance to win the event for the third occasion. He finished 6th at the recent Bob Hope event in his first and only start of 2010 and has been very consistent in his previous starts.
Rory Sabbatini has a very good record at Riviera having won once and finished runner up on one occasion. There is a lot to like about the way he has been playing of late including when runner up at Kapalua and if was to continue his good record at this venue then few would be surprised.
Tim Clark adds another string to the South African bow. He is in great form at present, has played this golf course well in the past and although he is still chasing that elusive PGA Tour victory he ticks many of the required boxes for success this week.
Of the Australasians other than Allenby, last week’s joint runners up, Marc Leishman and Michael Sim, could again do well despite both playing the event for the first time.
Previous winner and runner-up, Adam Scott, Rod Pampling, Jason Day, John Senden, Aaron Baddeley, Nathan Green, Stuart Appleby, Greg Chalmers, James Nitties, Mathew Goggin, Nick O’Hern and New Zealander Tim Wilkinson get their chance.
If Scott, in his first event of 2010, can pick up where he left off 2009 then he might do well again on a golf course where he has experienced victory, albeit in a weather shortened affair in 2005.
