Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider will include Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Viktor Hovland, Will Zalatoris, the three-time Genesis champion Bubba Watson and other notables.
On Monday afternoon, the field on the Riviera was 121 depths. This is more than reserved because of the strength in numbers between the automatic qualifiers. Included in its qualification criteria, the tournament invited the top 125 on a special FedExCup points list that has been running since the start of the 2019-20 season and through Phoenix Open Waste Management two weeks ago. (Similar criteria will apply to THE PLAYERS Championship and RBC Heritage, but these tournaments reserve space for 144 and 132 players, respectively.)
“The Riv” is a par 71 with three par 5s. It tilts at 7,322 yards. For relevant purposes, the course has remained unchanged since last year. The single layer of rough kikuyu is trimmed in an inch and a half, quite deep for relatively narrow fairways and greens that are prepared to reach 12 1/2 feet on the Stimpmeter.
Placement surfaces are 7,500 square feet on average, but Riviera’s fairways annually are among the most petty to be divided, so targets need to be slightly larger than other fields. Anyone who finds up to eight (of 14) fairways per round is hitting the historical average. Last year’s field average was 7.14 (or 50.97 percent), the fourth lowest of all courses that season. Hitting greens on approach and in par 3 is also not a bargain. Last year’s average of 10.11 per round was the second lowest among all courses. A golfer who went down with an inconsistent stroke on the ball cannot be expected to find a level of success with it here.
On his way to victory a year ago, Adam Scott hit the short grass of the tee just 23 of the 56 times (to qualify for T63), but led the field with an average of 13 GIR per round. Forever the ball’s striker, he used his length (eighth in distance from all drives at 300.9 yards) to finish third in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
Riviera’s three par 5s are the weak point, as numbers 1, 11 and 17 yielded an average score of 4.56 last year to qualify as the 10th easiest of 41 courses in 2019-20, but Scott it was an average T37 in par-5. Instead, he accepted the challenge in the tough par 4s, taking third place.
While the par 3 sixth hole draws attention with a bunker in the center, the par 4 10th is the main hole. Avid golf fans already know this, but even they may be surprised that the 315-yard beauty is easier than some egos on the strings can show. It is a fact that nº 10 was the easiest par 4 in the Riviera in four of the last five years, including in each of the last two. Scott birdied in each of the first three rounds before settling for a pair in last year’s final.
The general message is that the Riviera is as firm and just as it is consistent. In other words, returning competitors know exactly what to expect. There are no tricks.
In general, the data mentioned can apply to all editions in which the climate cooperates, as it usually does in sunny southern California. This week’s forecast is almost identical to last year’s, with daytime highs in the mid-1960s and only passing clouds, if any. The only difference is that the wind may be a little cooler this week, but the course is 1-2 miles from the ocean, so it is protected from the strong relentless gusts on the coast.
In line with its second edition as an invitation and high status, the winner will again be rewarded with a three-year PGA TOUR membership exemption (or extension of one season to five if already exempted until 2023-24). What’s new in this year’s scenario is that the champion will receive 550 FedExCup points instead of the usual 500. The same increase will apply to winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.
ROB BOLTON SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider, Rob Bolton, recapitulates and shows all tournaments from various angles. Look for your following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Power Ratings
TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider
SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Remodeling, Medical Extensions, Rookie Watch
* – Rob is a panel member for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which he also publishes on Tuesday.