The Northern Trust Open: What You Need To Know
Hooray for Hollywood! The Tour returns this week to Tinsel Town for the celebrity packed Northern Trust Open. It should be a good tournament as the field is packed with formidable players. Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Graeme McDowell, Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, and Phil Mickelson are just a few of the big names in a field that promises no shortage of action. Check it out this weekend!
What: Northern Trust Open
When: Thursday Feb 14 – Sunday February 17
Where: Riviera Country Club, CA
Purse: $6,600,000
Winning Share: $1.2 mil
FedExCup Points: 500
Par: 71
Yardage: 7298
Champion: Bill Haas
Website: http://www.northerntrustopen.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NTrustOpen
What It Online: http://stream.golfchannel.com/?pid=24&referrer=http://www.golfchannel.com/
TV Schedule (Initial Airings)
Thursday: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m. ET
Friday: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m. ET
Saturday: Golf Channel 1-2:30 p.m. ET, CBS 3-6 p.m. ET
Sunday: Golf Channel 1-2:30 p.m. ET, CBS 3-6:30 p.m. ET
Radio Schedule (PGA Tour Network on Sirius 208XM 93)
Thursday-Saturday 12-6 p.m.
Sunday 1-7 p.m.
Who To Watch:
Bill Haas, Keegan Bradley, Phil Mickelson – Woohoo! These three are in the same group. Last year, it came down to a playoff between the three players, ending with Haas as the champion.
Haas may be the defending champion, but he is definitely considered the dark horse. He’s been playing well, but he finished T6 at Scottsdale and T9 at Torrey Pines. That’s good, but that T6 didn’t beat Mickelson.
Mickelson has been having a good run recently; his ball striking is beautiful. He has finished first(’08, ’09) or second (’07, ’12) in four of the last six years, so look out!
Bradley’s last showing was at Phoenix where he finished tied for 24th. He hasn’t been at his best so far this season, but he isn’t far off.
Jimmy Walker- The best player you don’t know. Walker is coming off a T3 at Pebble and a T4 at Torrey Pines. He’s made the cut in all five starts this year and tied for fourth last year at Riviera. Sure, he hasn’t won so far, but I get the feeling we haven’t seen anything yet.
