Bubba Watson once said that a successful career would be winning 10 times. And he wasn’t just talking about tournaments at Riviera Country Club.
The two-time Masters champion will be at the course in Pacific Palisades this year to defend his title at what is now known as the Genesis Open. The long-hitting lefty will try to make it three victories in four years, in addition to getting that 10th title on the PGA Tour.
Watson loves Riviera because it requires creativity.
“You can hit shots around here; you can use your imagination,” he said of the layout. “I hit some big hooks, I hit some big slices, and it works out. The key around here is just making your putts.”
Watson’s caddie, Ted Scott, said the undulating greens at Riviera bring out a youthful side of his boss.
“Bubba loves fast and tricky green complexes, especially at places like Augusta and Riviera,” said Scott, who has been with Watson for 10 years. “They bring out the kid in him. He’s so creative and doesn’t leave as many putts short because of the green speeds.”
Watson also likes that players don’t have to be near the lead after early rounds in order to win.
“It’s one of those courses where you can get hot and, if you just make the cut and get out there and get hot, you never know,” he said. “You can move up the leaderboard pretty quickly. That’s why that golf course is so demanding – that you can move up real fast or back real fast.”
Watson also likes that Riviera’s rough isn’t penal, so even when off the fairway there’s a chance to go at greens.
“When that golf course is firm and fast, it’s about angles because the rough isn’t really that thick,” he said. “You can play from the rough; I’m not saying it’s easy, I’m just saying it’s not as thick as a U.S. Open.”
Despite his flair and experimental ways, Watson is still a tactician, which fits the tighter and shorter layout at Riviera.
“Well, it’s called Hogan’s Alley for a reason,” Scott said about Riviera, where Ben Hogan won five times. “It’s named after a pure ball-striker and that’s what Bubba is. The reason he plays so well at Riviera is because he hits a ton of greens in regulation and a lot of fairways. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.”
For Watson, last year’s victory got his season, which included a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup and Olympic teams, off to a good start.
“Every time you tee it up you want to win, so every year and every season you want to have a victory because the goal is to get to Maui (Tournament of Champions),” he said. “If you go to Maui, that means you did well. So for me to do that early, knowing how tough last year was going to be because of the Olympics, Ryder Cup and all of those things, was important.”
Despite a different name for the event, Watson expects it to be business as usual at Riviera this year.
“Every time you play well in a tournament, it’s a great feeling,” he said. “The sponsor this year will be different but the atmosphere will be the same. The fans are great there; they understand golf; they love golf.”
Watson also appreciates Riviera’s lore and the region’s options.
“The history of that golf tournament and that golf course is phenomenal,” he said. “Being part of a tournament that you’ve won, there are a lot of things I do and a lot of things that get my mind off of golf. … I try to take in a basketball game when I’m in L.A. It’s just so iconic to go to Staples Center. Obviously, I want to go to Clippers games but, you know, sometimes you have to take in the other team.”
GENESIS OPEN
When: Feb. 16-19
Where: Pacific Palisades
Course: Riviera Country Club
Format: 72 holes, stroke play
Defending champion: Bubba Watson
Miscellaneous: Northern Insurance is out and Genesis is in as the latest sponsor of this event that debuted in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open. This is also the first year that the Tiger Woods Foundation will be the tournament’s primary host and beneficiary.
Tickets or more information: tigerwoodsfoundation.org
