Wayward play might cost Woods dearly at Riviera
We will know a lot more about Tiger Woods’ latest comeback Sunday. Or maybe Friday.
It’s one thing for Woods to play at Torrey Pines, as he did three weeks ago. Torrey is a cavernous, wide-open course on which Woods has won eight times, including the 2008 U.S. Open. He tied for 23rd in last month’s PGA Tour event there, despite spraying tee shots all over San Diego.
This week’s tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles is another challenge entirely. Riviera punishes wayward tee shots, as Woods knows all too well. He has played there nine times as a pro without winning.
So if Woods plants himself in contention this weekend, or posts another top-25, we can take reports of his rejuvenated game more seriously. And if he’s wild off the tee again and misses the cut, we should remain skeptical he will ever pocket his 80th tour win.
Woods deserves credit for striking a realistic tone, in sharp contrast to his old habits. No more blather about entering tournaments expecting only to win. Woods is 42 now, coming off his fourth back surgery. This will take time, if it happens at all.
“I’d eventually like to win tournaments,” he told reporters Tuesday. “I’m trying to get to that point. … I’ve been away from the game a long time. I’ve basically played two tournaments, so I’ve got a lot of room for improvement and a long way to go.”
Numeric evidence comes in the form of Woods’ world ranking (No. 550). Or consider his reflections on the tournament at Torrey Pines — his feet were sore after walking 72 holes, because he’s accustomed to riding in a cart back home in Florida.
Woods, refreshingly, is showing a human side. He seems genuinely friendly with younger pros such as Justin Thomas, who will join Woods and Rory
McIlroy in Thursday’s marquee group (7:22 a.m.).
Woods even sought out Thomas for a practice round Tuesday. This is not the same old Tiger.
“I’ve been blown away by how open he is toward me, and how willing he is to help me if I ask,” Thomas said at Riviera. “Today, he asked if I wanted to play, and it’s a point I never thought I’d be at in my life. He keeps his circle small, for good reason.”
Pebble musings: This year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am resonated on many levels: good weather, compelling celebrities and a pro leaderboard filled with the game’s biggest names.
Well, except for the pro atop the final leaderboard.
All credit to Ted Potter Jr. — he impressively navigated his way around Pebble on Sunday, making no bogeys over his last 17 holes (including finishing with 11 consecutive pars). That was entirely unexpected, given his spotty PGA Tour track record and sloppy start (threeputt bogey on No. 1).
Still, tournament officials cannot be thrilled with having a low-wattage pro, who showed little personality after his victory, as their reigning champion for the next 12 months. Potter’s obscurity was magnified by the mostly marquee players who tied for second: Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Chez Reavie. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald offered some solace by teaming with Kevin Streelman to win the pro-am competition. Fitzgerald is the ideal amateur champ in many ways, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer with name recognition, an engaging demeanor and a consuming passion for golf.
Fitzgerald became the seventh pro athlete to conquer the pro-am, and the first since former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino in 1988.
The full list of athlete pro-am winners: Lefty O’Doul in 1949 and ’54; Albie Pearson in 1962; John Brodie (with Bob Rosburg) in 1970; Jacky Lee in 1975; George Brett (with Fred Couples) in 1987; and Marino. Briefly: The Ben Hogan Award watch list released Wednesday includes Collin Morikawa
(Cal), Brandon Wu (Stanford), Justin Suh (San Jose/USC) and
Shintaro Ban (San Jose/ UNLV). … The USGA is seeking volunteers for this year’s U.S. Amateur, in August at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, and next year’s U.S. Open at Pebble. Applications for the Amateur are available at http://2018usam volunteers.usga.org and for the Open at http://2019volunteers. usga.org. … Lydia Ko and San Jose native Christina Kim are among the LPGA players in the Women’s Australian Open. Ko shot a 4-under-par 68 Thursday and was three shots back of leader Jin Young Ko late in the opening round. Kim carded a 74.