The 2015 Northern Trust Open features a star-studded field of golfers looking to tackle the difficult Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The par-71 course boasts more than 7,200 yards of narrow, tree-lined fairways and treacherous bunkers sure to test the mettle of every member of the field.
Perhaps former PGA Tour champion Johnny Miller put it best, via NorthernTrustOpen.com: "Riviera is definitely one of the greatest, no-nonsense golf courses in the world. It requires a player to play every club in his bag and every shot in his game."
In 2014, Bubba Watson successfully navigated 72 holes at Riviera, notching his first win of the season with a four-day total of 15-under-par. Watson used the victory as a catalyst for the year, going on to win twice more, including an impressive display in the Masters at Augusta National.
Watson is in the field once again this year, but several players come in with momentum and are aiming to keep the southpaw from back-to-back wins in the Pacific Palisades. To ensure you don't miss a moment of the action, here's a look at the tournament's essential information.
2015 Northern Trust Open
Dates: Thursday, Feb. 19 - Sunday, Feb. 22
Where: The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California
Purse: $6.7 million (winning share: $1.206 million)
FedEx Cup Points: 500 to winner
TV Info:
Thursday and Friday: 5-8 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
Saturday: 3-6 p.m. ET, CBS
Sunday: 3-6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Notable Thursday Tee Times
Full tee times can be viewed at PGATour.com.
Stars to Watch
This name may come as a surprise to some, but Northern Trust Open spectators should keep a keen eye on Bernd Wiesberger. The Austrian is making his 2015 debut on the PGA Tour this week and is coming in riding a huge wave of momentum.
A regular on the European Tour, Wiesberger has been ripping it up this season, finishing third in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, tied for fourth in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and, most recently, second in the Maybank Malaysian Open. According to his Twitter account, the 29-year-old is already getting acclimated with the course:
Wiesberger will have his work cut out for him, though, as several Americans will be aiming to win on their home soil.
Harris English is coming off a spectacular showing at the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing tied for second after losing a playoff to Jason Day. English had a rough 2014 season, recording just five top-10 finishes in 28 starts after winning twice the year before. So far, 2015 has been better, as his second-place finish came just three weeks after he had tied for third at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
While English and several other Americans are poised for solid showings at Riviera, the group to watch when the tournament commences features Watson, Bill Haas and Dustin Johnson.
Watson isn't only the defending champion, but he's also coming off a tied-for-second finish in the Phoenix Open. He played extremely well at TPC Scottsdale but finished behind winner Brooks Koepka by a single stroke after five pars to finish the tournament. Still, during a press conference, Watson spoke highly of his game:
The driver is working really good right now. The irons are always pretty good. It's just making a few putts.
I haven't played that much in the last few months, but I know I'm working on the right things. My attitude is in the right spot. My mental game is in the right spot. It's looking good for another great year.
A high level of confidence will make this lefty an instant contender at Riviera.
Watson's playing partners are no slouches either. Haas' 2015 campaign has been quite turbulent. He began the year with an impressive victory in the Humana Challenge, but he faltered at the Phoenix Open, finishing in 76th place. He was able to right the ship a bit in the Farmers Insurance Open but still finished tied for 19th.
Despite Haas' roller-coaster season, he's extremely familiar with Riviera, having won the Northern Trust Open in 2012 and finishing tied for third in 2013. His game is nicely tailored for the course, and he should provide some stiff competition for Watson. Haas will have an even bigger chance this week if he can get his putter going like he did at Torrey Pines:
Johnson rounds out the prolific trio. Following a lengthy hiatus from the game, Johnson returned to golf at the Farmers Insurance Open. The tournament didn't go well, and he missed the cut. However, he was resilient and bounced back in a big way at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, finishing tied for fourth.
While his finish was stellar, even more impressive was his consistency. Johnson shot four consecutive sub-70 rounds, finishing with a 66 on Sunday. TaylorMade Golf's Twitter account had this to say about Johnson's play:
Momentum and confidence can go a long way for a golfer. Having the right mentality prior to the commencement of a tournament can be the difference between an early exit and contending on Sunday. Johnson has a hot hand right now, and he should expected to remain well in the mix.