Northern Trust Begins at Riviera

February 13, 2008

Steve Galluzzo , Sports Editor

Qualifying is done, practice rounds over, the Pro-Am forgotten, now it's down to business at historic Riviera Country Club, where 17 of the top 20 golfers in the world tee off Thursday in the first round of the Northern Trust Open. Is it purely coincidence that it's starting on Valentine's Day? Perhaps, for those who love most an afternoon at the range.

Despite the absence of top-ranked Tiger Woods (winless at Riviera in 11 tries), fourth-ranked Ernie Els and No. 13 Henrik Stenson, the tournament figures to pack plenty of drama with Charles Howell III trying to defend his title against the likes of second-ranked Phil Mickelson (last year's runner-up), Master's champion Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia.

Howell, 28, erased a four-shot deficit on the back nine to beat Mickelson on the third playoff hole last February. Now ranked 38th in the world, he has not won an event since his improbable victory here, although his game suits this course, on which he has three top 10 finishes in six starts.

Prior to winning at Riviera last year, Howell's only other PGA win was the Michelob Championship in 2002'the final year of that tournament'so this is the first time in his pro career he'll have a chance to repeat. However, it won't be easy. The 68th edition of the tour's Los Angeles stop is bound to be one of the most difficult in recent memory because the greens will be hard and fast and the famed kikuyu rough could be as high as three inches at some locations on the course.

Play officially begins at 7 o' clock this morning and the total purse is $6.2 million--$1 million more than last year'with the champion banking a $1,116,000 check. Northern Trust, one of the nation's largest personal trust companies, replaces Nissan as the tournament's title sponsor.

So what's the biggest key to success at Riviera? Putting. Of the last 15 winners, 12 had one of their two best putting weeks of the season. Of course, with the grass being so high, driving accuracy will also be crucial and scores could be closer to par than normal. The last time a winner shot single digits under par at this event was Mike Weir, who shot nine-under in 2003 for the first of his back-to-back titles.

Riviera has hosted the tournament every year but two since

1973. The 1983 event was moved to Rancho Park because Riviera was the site of the PGA Championship, and the 1998 event was held at Valencia Country Club while Riviera was preparing to host the U.S. Senior Open later that year.

Also in the 144-player field are Jim Furyk, Justin Rose, Steve Stricker, K.J. Choi, Luke Donald, British Open champion Padraig Harrington, U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Stuart Appleby and David Toms. Past champions participating include Weir, Rory Sabbatini, Adam Scott, Robert Allenby, Len Mattiace and Billy Mayfair. Exemptions were given to two-time major champion John Daly and PGA Tour Qualifying School graduate Kevin Streelman.

FACT BOX

Northern Trust Open

Today-Sunday

At Riviera Country Club

(7,279 yards, par 71)

2007 Champion:

Charles Howell III (-16)

TV Schedule:

Thursday-Friday

Golf Channel (noon-3 p.m.)

Saturday-Sunday

CBS (noon-3 p.m.)

Tickets

$30 adults; $25 seniors; $20 juniors

Parking

VA Hospital (405 Fwy, exit Wilshire West)