The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Woods eyes win No. 83, record at Riviera
LOS ANGELES >> There is no better place for Tiger Woods to set the PGA Tour record for most career victories than at Riviera.
Because this is where he played his first PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old amateur?
No.
Because he now is tournament host of the Genesis Invitational, giving it the kind of elevated status — smaller field, bigger purse — enjoyed only by Jack Nicklaus at the Memorial and the late Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill?
Not necessarily. Because it’s the course Woods has played the most times — 10 as a professional — without ever having won and he’s due?
Not at all.
What makes Riviera ideal is because it’s the next one on his schedule. And the sooner Woods can win No. 83 to break the record he shares with Sam Snead, the sooner everyone can stop speculating about the inevitable.
The question came up Tuesday — how could it not? — about how special it would be for Woods to set the record at Riviera. He interjected by saying with a smile, “Yes, that’s been mentioned.”
It was mentioned three weeks ago at Torrey Pines when he started the new year, and that made just as much sense. Torrey Pines was the first PGA Tour event he attended with his father, the course where he won eight times, including that 2008 U.S. Open that he played with a double stress fracture and shredded knee ligaments.
Then again, Woods has left such an enormous trail in golf that winning anywhere would have some historical
Tiger Woods can set the PGA Tour record for most wins this weekend at Riviera. perspective. Oddly enough, what showed such a comfort level
It could be Bay Hill, made the career record feel with his swing and with his where he has won eight so inevitable was a tournament game that more victories times. Maybe the Masters, he had never played. seemed certain to follow. where he could set the record Winning the Tour Championship So how about now? and tie Jack Nicklaus (for the third time) “I’ve played in a number with a sixth green at the end of the 2018 season of events over the years, and jacket. The U.S. Open is at was the first step in his for me not to win an event Winged Foot, the first major comeback from four back that has meant so much he played after his father surgeries. Winning the to me in my hometown ... died and the first cut Masters (for the fifth time) I’ve done well in San Diego, he ever missed in a major. made the comeback complete, I’ve done well at Sherwood, It’s a long list. for it was his first major just haven’t done well here,” Woods hasn’t decided after a drought of nearly Woods said. “So hopefully, where he is playing or even 11 years. I can put it together this how much this year — even But it was when he returned week and we’ll have a great the Mexico Championship from a fifth knee conversation on Sunday.” next week remains up in the surgery — this one the Riviera is the closest air — but odds are he will maintenance variety — and PGA Tour stop to his hometown have won every tournament played the ZoZo Championship of Cypress in Orange on his schedule except L.A. in Japan where he County, about 40 miles away, although with traffic, it takes about as much time as the 90 miles from Cypress to Torrey Pines.
Woods has done well all over his home state: eight victories at Torrey Pines, three at La Costa, two at Pebble Beach, one at Harding Park (not including the Presidents Cup in 2009, where he went 5-0).
Riviera hasn’t been so friendly to him. Woods withdrew after narrowly making the cut in 2006 because he was ill, and he stayed away for the next 12 years, only returning when a new title sponsor came on board and took on his TGR
Ventures as the group running the tournament.
Not all memories are bad. He was runner-up in 1999 to Ernie Els — a bogey on the 13th cost him dearly, and a bogey on the final hole ended it for Woods. He also shared a story about one of the occasions he was at the tournament without clubs.
Woods was behind the ropes watching on the 11th tee when he heard Tom Watson was coming up the eighth hole, which was right behind him. He got there just in time for Watson to miss left while aiming for the back left pin position.