2015 Northern Trust Open Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

The 2015 Northern Trust Open will be played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The course, which is one of two courses nicknamed “Hogan’s Alley” after Ben Hogan, will play as a par-71 measuring 7,349 yards for the event.

The field this week is set to include defending champion Bubba Watson, Jimmy Walker, Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, who’s coming off last week’s win at Pebble Beach and Fred Couples, who will make his 33rd appearance in the event. Also, Sergio Garcia makes his 2015 PGA Tour debut this week.

In last year’s event, Watson shot 64-64 on the weekend to win by two shots over Dustin Johnson, coming from four strokes behind in the final round.

Expert Picks

http://www.pgatour.com/expert-picks/2015/02/17/northern-trust-open.html

PGATOUR.COM expert	Fantasy selections	Chamion
HELEN ROSS Chief of Correspondents	Bill Haas, Dustin Johnson Jimmy Walker, Nick Watney	Johnson
Johnson gained a lot of confidence at Pebble and the home game should suit last year's Riviera runner-up.
JONATHAN WALL Equipment Writer	Harris English, Jim Furyk Bill Haas, Jordan Spieth	Haas
Won the 2012 Northern Trust Open and has four top 25s in his last four starts at Riviera. Haas also has a 2015 win under his belt at the Humana Challenge.
ROB BOLTON Fantasy Columnist	Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson	Watson
The West Coast Swing has yielded a strong contingent of champions. Expect one more in the series finale.
BRIAN WACKER Staff Writer	Charlie Beljan, Bill Haas Brendan Steele, Jimmy Walker	Steele
He plays his best golf out west and a few weeks ago finished second at PGA West. Steele has also performed progressively better each year at Riviera, where he tied for 10th last year.
SEAN MARTIN Events Editor	Harris English, Jim Furyk Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson	Johnson
It didn't take long for DJ to get back in contention. Riviera isn't far from Sherwood, where he's been living, and he plays well in California.
WILL HASKETT PGA TOUR Radio	Bill Haas, Charl Schwartzel Bubba Watson, Nick Watney	Watson
Bubba's weekend last year was one of the best 36-hole closing stretches all time. He was surgical around Riviera and is on form again in early 2015. No reason to pick against him and his imagination.
D.J. PIEHOWSKI Digital Producer	Hideki Matsuyama, Pat Perez Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Wakler	Walker
I can't imagine this pick is too unique, but Jimmy is playing great and headed to his favorite course. What's not to like?
MIKE McALLISTER Managing Editor	Charl Schwartzel, Webb Simpson Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson	Schwartzel
Has made 64 TOUR starts since his only TOUR win (2011 Masters) but he loves Riviera, with seven of his eight career rounds in the 60s.
JOHN SWANTEK Host, LIVE@	Sang-Moon Bae, Charlie Beljan Kevin Chappell, Jimmy Walker	Walker
I used to pencil him in at Riviera every year, even before he became a stud over the last 18 months. No reason to stray from that strategy now.
AMANDA BALIONIS Host, Trending on TOUR	Jim Furyk, Bill Haas Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney	Johnson
What I'm lacking in creativity by picking him 2 weeks in a row, I'll make up for in victory.

[Golfingdad]

DJ played well last year (watching it on replay right now) and played really well last week, so he's my pick! What's the over/under on the announcers collective usage of the word(s) "kikuyu grass" this weekend? 11 billion, give or take??

[SteveBamford]

How does Kikuyu differ from say Perennial Rye or Bermuda when it comes to the fairways and rough?

[joekelly]

Not a complete answer, but kikuyu grass is probably not something you want in your yard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennisetum_clandestinum

Wiki only says, regarding golf, that  'kikuyu creates challenging rough'.

[Elrey Desol]

a couple of DFS lineups

Furyk
Knost
Perez
Schwartzel
Walker
Stefani

Couples

Garcia

Haas

Perez

Schwartzel

Watney

[9iron]

Kikuyu grass is abundant in South Africa and is now widely used in Southern California. I have played on it and while golf course supers like it, I do not like it from a playing perspective. It is really thick and full of thatch. I feel as though any chip or pitch shot must be played with a very firm grip of the club.

But that is just my opinion.

[Crim]

Scott Piercy on the 10th hole, about 15 minutes ago. Just lovin' that sand.

[CarlSpackler]

Scott Piercy on the 10th hole, about 15 minutes ago. Just lovin' that sand.

Ouch.

[Wally Fairway]

Scott Piercy on the 10th hole, about 15 minutes ago. Just lovin' that sand.

Nice 1-putt double

as a former caddie my self, it looks like a lot of work to clean up that mess

[RJH999]

Scott Piercy on the 10th hole, about 15 minutes ago. Just lovin' that sand. [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/114559/] [/URL]

Justin Leonard went bunker to bunker to bunker to bunker and ended up making a 7. Yikes!

[Crim]

Justin Leonard went bunker to bunker to bunker to bunker and ended up making a 7. Yikes!

Lol! what the hell? Just checked it out, yup, same hole, hahaha.

[RJH999]

The Goose AND The Big Fijian both leading a golf tournament? Holy shit, did I time travel to 2005?!

[Crim]

The Goose AND The Big Fijian both leading a golf tournament? Holy shit, did I time travel to 2005?!

Certainly been a weird week, at one point last Thursday it was Paddy Harrington & John Daly...

It's all about putting those 4 rounds together though. Both Paddy and Daly missed the 3 round cut :(

[RJH999]

Certainly been a weird week, at one point last Thursday it was Paddy Harrington & John Daly... It's all about putting those 4 rounds together though. Both Paddy and Daly missed the 3 round cut :(

Well Paddy is one under through one! It's certainly looking up! :-D

[Crim]

Well Paddy is one under through one! It's certainly looking up!

[RJH999]

:beer:

Killin it Mr. Harrington -2 thru 2.

[Thrash13]

There is a long way to go, but I don't think anyone will be shooting 64-64 on the weekend this year. The course is already firm and fast, and I'm guessing it will get tougher the next few days. 10 to 12 under should be looking good Sunday afternoon. Good stuff!

[Club Rat]

Petterson just made eagle on 11 from greenside bunker.

Watching the shot, the bunker must be deep. Only the top of his hat was visible when he was standing upright.