News
Long Time Running: The PGA Tour Arrives In L.A.
By Scott MacLeod, via Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)
When “Lighthouse” Harry Cooper beat out George Von Elm by three strokes for the first place prize of $3,500 at the first L.A. Open in 1926, few could have likely imagined that the event would be still being played 85 years into the future.
But that is definitely the case as the fourth oldest event on the PGA Tour, now the Northern Trust Open, kicks off this week at the Rivera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Only this time, the winner will earn a substantially higher reward for his success, to the tune of $1.17 million.
Famed Riviera has been the permanent host of the tournament since 1973 and that has become an integral reason why so many top tour players look to the play the event. The George C. Thomas, Jr. / William Bell P. Bell design is much beloved as it is fair, puts emphasis on accuracy and old school shot-making. Add in a mix of old Hollywood styling and the legacy of Ben Hogan victories at the course and you have a pretty intoxicating event.
Defending this week is Steve Stricker, who rode a hot putter to a sixteen under par total. He will be trying to be the third back-to-back winner in the last ten years, following the standard set by Mike Weir in 2003/2004 and Phil Mickelson in 2007/2008. Six players have accomplished the feat in the full history of the tournament.
Stricker is still a strong contender for many reasons. Ahead of last year’s victory he took second place in 2009 and so far this year he has two top ten finishes and has not recorded a round over par. His consecutive cut streak, at 25 events, is the current standard on the Tour.
Other veteran players of note in the field include Jim Furyk, making his 15th appearance at the event, Phil Mickelson, and two-time winner of the 2011 Tour, Mark Wilson.
Leading the charge for the younger set will be Dustin Johnson, Jhonnatan Vegas, Rickie Fowler, Ryo Ishikawa and 2010 British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.
It is the first PGA Tour start of the year for Oosthuizen and just his third start ever in a non-major or World Golf Championship event. He missed the cut at the 2008 Shell Houston open and finished tied for 64th at the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
PGA Tour rookie Joseph Bramlett received the Northern Trust Open Exemption. The exemption was started in 2009 to promote diversity in the game of golf. Bramlett has just made one cut so far this season in three events played. He finished in a tie for 68th at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Fast Facts
Dates: February 14-20, 2011
Where: Riviera Country Club; Pacific Palisades, CA
Par/Yards: 35-36—71/7,325
Field: 144
FedExCup points: 500
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Purse: $6,500,000; Winner’s Share: $1,170,000
2010 Champion: Steve Stricker, 268 (-16)
www.northerntrustopen.com
This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Canada’s Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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