Northern Trust Open - Review and Predictions - by Ilyas Patel and Mark Huber

Mark's Kaddy Korner Review


L. A. Northern Trust Open – Riviera CC

The strong field reflects the strength of the course. Riviera, one of George Thomas’ greatest creations, is in everyone’s top five courses on the PGA Tour. The sign of a good course, too me, is how well one remembers the holes. If you play a mediocre track many holes go unnoticed, at Riviera you pick a number for player or caddy and they will immediately draw the perfect picture of that hole. Eighteen is, bar none, the best inland finishing hole and the variety of holes challenges every club in the bag while creating decisions which dare the mind.

Tom Fazio’s 2008 redesign lengthen the course a bit, just over 7,2oo yards, still short by tour standards, but the heavy air blowing off the Pacific makes the course play much longer. The eucalyptus tinged breezes knock down shots and balls don’t bounce when they land on the brushed kikuyugrass fronting the greens. The unique collection of par threes, six has a bunker in the middle of the green, the gently bending tight fairways and the spongy poanua greens keep scores fairly low this week. A couple under every day will find you in the hunt Sunday.

Tucked in the Pacific Palisades hills the tournament has the worst parking on tour and the steepest walk to the range. The clubhouse is perched high on the hill and it’s many a caddies’ goal to only traverse the incline once a day. If you start on the first tee next to the clubhouse we try forecaddying from the practice tee across the second hole into the first fairway. The trick is getting an extra ball in your man’s hand without implying he needs a provisional for O.B. left of the fairway. My line was always, “Hey man, here’s another ball with a different number in case someone is playing the same one up there.” Only one pro ever uttered, “Or, in case I whip it out of bounds and you don’t have to run back up the hill.” Many caddies have snuck off without giving their man a ball and were next seen jogging back up the hill. It’s not a good way to start the round, the first hole is the easiest and you expect a birdie.

The champion’s wall here reads like a Hall of Fame list and they usually have to battle the weather along with the course. It’s Hogan’s first alley and all the big boys except Jack have won here but don’t expect Phil to three peat, McCarron’s locker is close by and he’s wielding that long putter.

Watching golf last week seemed a bit like NASCAR with the fighting going on in the pits. Without Tiger, and players laying up on eighteen when they have a chance to win, the tour has to create some excitement. If the groove controversy, Phil and McCarron’s flap, and other player reactions are going to take the place of good golf, I’m out of here. Golf has always been about golf and the entertainment is between the ropes. Let’s hope the PGA Tour isn’t following the other sports leads trying to manufacture any type of publicity just to draw a crowd.

Look out for the experienced player this week; you don’t see many youngsters winning this event because they haven’t learned the nuances. The nooks and crannies should be avoided at all cost, you can’t bomb it and find it along these eucalyptus lined fairways.


Predictions:

Mark's Favorites...

Michael Allen played well last week so I’m going with another old guy this week, Fred Couples. A two time champion who loves the L.A. area, especially Pink’s Hot Dog Stand. Watch out for Kenny Perry if he shakes off the jet lag from last week visiting the Middle East.

My other old guy pick is Scott McCarron. He has a good track record at Riviera and when he gets feisty he gets dangerous, plus he grew up around here attending UCLA. (MH)

IP's Favorites...

A couple of my picks came pretty close to taking the title last year at the Farmer’s, so let’s see if I can continue the hot streak with this weeks Northern Trust Open. Look for Steve Stricker to be at the top of the leader board all weekend, as this punishing golf course calls for steady and accurate play. If Stick can be in the fairway I think he is due for an exceptional putting week.

Another guy that I like at this venue is Jim Furyk. He ended 2009 with a very strong showing and I look for him to grind it out this week at Riviera. Furyk is always there come Sunday and expect this week to be no different other than he has a very good shot of taking the tournament.

My wildcard is Anthony Kim. Now many will say that he is not a sleeper pick, but his erratic play has some questioning his scheduling and motivation to get to that elite level. I think this West Coast cat is going to post solid rounds all weekend and be in contention on Sunday. AK’s most important round will be Saturday, if he can play well on Saturday I think he will win his first Northern Trust title. (IP)

Thanks for checking this post out, and please leave comments or your own predictions!

Mark Huber is a semi-retired PGA Tour caddy doing a little writing. You can contact him at markskaddykorner@gmail.com or check out www.MarksKaddyKorner.com for more stories about golf and life. He’s caddied twenty-one years on every tour for over fifty players mainly Bob Murphy, Ray Floyd, Doug Tewell, and worked for Tom Watson twice in 2009. Mark grew up in Havana, IL attended Illinois State on a baseball scholarship and played semi-pro ball with the Eau Claire Cavaliers after spring training with the White Sox way back when. He is a die-hard Cubs fan.

Mark has freelanced for many sites, including ESPN. He will now be contributing his insights to Docksquad Sports